Sony has registered a new “PlayStation PC LLC” label for its PlayStation exclusive games that are being ported on Windows. The new label has been spotted on the Steam listings for PlayStation exclusive games, where it has replaced the existing “PlayStation Mobile, Inc.” publisher name on some titles (via VGC).
The PlayStation PC LLC label has been registered in April according to a Corporation Wiki listing, though Sony has yet to officially discuss this new brand. However, the PlayStation division has already showed that it’s serious about bringing more PlayStation exclusive games to Windows, with the best-sellers God of War and Uncharted 4 coming to PC in 2022.
If Microsoft now releases most of its new first-party games simultaneously on Xbox and PC (with the exception of the freshly-released Age of Empires IV), Sony has ignored PC gamers for a long time. This strategy has been working very well for the company, with a first-party game like God of War selling 19.5M copies since its release on PlayStation 4 back in 2018.
Most PlayStation first-party games are real system-sellers for Sony, and it probably makes sense for the company to wait a couple of years before bringing these games to Windows. We’ve already seen some high-profile PlayStation exclusives come to PC such as Horizon Zero Dawn and Days Gone, and this likely just the beginning. Earlier this year, Sony announced the acquisition of Nixxes Software, a developer known for its excellent work on PC ports.
House of Ashes is the third installment of The Dark Pictures Anthology, a series of interactive drama survival horror videogames that each feature their own unique cast, location, and horrific story to tell.
It’s developed by Supermassive Games and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment and if you somehow missed knowing about this series’ existence, then you’ve surely heard about their Playstation exclusive Until Dawn or Little Nightmares II: Enhanced Edition.
I was a huge fan of Until Dawn but found the first entry in the anthology, Man of Medan, somewhat unimpressive. Even though it had some great ideas, the execution wasn’t always spot on. I can already tell you that they’ve come a long way since and that House of Ashes is a horror treat you should definitely not pass up.
Into the abyss – Story breakdown
House of Ashes starts with an interesting prologue taking back all the way in 2231BC, before the country was even called Iraq and when two ancient nations were at war while also dealing with famine and plague. We control a soldier in the Akkadian army who is tasked with sacrificing prisoners to hopefully appease the gods.
The blood dripping into the sand brings them more than what they bargained for however and it unleashes what seems like an evil curse that sweeps through the palace and leaves no one alive.
Except for a sculptor maybe who spent the rest of his life making creepy statues
Fast forward to 2003 in the midst of the Iraq war and we lead a group of marines on a mission to find hidden weapon silos by Saddam. A fight breaks out between the US marines and Iraq soldiers and their bloodshed seems to trigger the curse once more.
The lucky few that survive tumble into the abyss and find themselves in the buried ruins of the ancient temple from the prologue. It doesn’t take long before they realize that the opposing army isn’t the only danger lurking in the dark and perhaps they’ll even need to learn to co-operate to survive the monsters that prey on them.
You’ll notice that I don’t include screenshots of the creatures in this review. I’d like to leave their appearance and true nature a secret for those that still want to play the game and discover the secrets for themselves. Due to the narrative nature of the title, I do believe we’ll dip our toes into some form of spoiler territory, but I’ll aim to keep the waters as shallow as possible.
A guiding hand
NO SPOILERS!
The curator is the only returning character, but his role takes place outside the game. He’s the one telling us these stories from his library full of horror tales and he’s ever watchful of our actions and decisions, teasing us with our mistakes or tempting us to count on him to lift the veil on what’s to come.
It’s an interesting set-up and just like in previous games from The Dark Pictures, you can find spoilers in the game itself. Hidden throughout the game are stone tablets that upon inspection show you a premonition of a possible character demise.
I recall the ones from Man of Medan truly giving some insightful info and warning me of possible deadly paths, whereas I mostly managed to keep my characters away from the deadly traps here. Mostly…
When I asked for a piercing, this was not what I had in mind.
Still, it’s very much worth looking for all the secrets in the game. Especially the torn pages from a diary written by explorers who started digging at this archaeological site in 1947. They also went through similar tribulations as your current cast of characters, and you’d do well to learn from their mistakes.
Your choices matter
The way the story is told from multiple perspectives is simply brilliant, switching control from one player character to the next and with your decisions impacting what happens way down the line. Whenever a decision has to be made, you’ll get an option to follow your heart, your mind, or say nothing at all.
“This is the worst date ever”
These choices impact the game in multiple ways. First of all, you have bearings, decisions like not calling in air support at the start of the game will have both an immediate impact as well as rippling effects down the line. But also finding certain items on your path may open up different outcomes later on.
The second impact is on how other characters perceive you. Are they friendly and do they trust you, or will they only be willing to bury the hatchet in your back? You can track your status with all player characters at any time during the game.
People-pleasing personalities and horror games don’t always mix.
Quick on your feet – Quick Time Events
Other than these decisions that count on your intuition or forward-thinking, another element that makes a return are the Quick Time Events. Timed button presses that will very likely end in someone dying or getting discovered by the monsters if you fail.
A. A. A. A. Staying alive!
Interestingly, House of Ashes has multiple difficulty settings and this aspect of the game is impacted the most. I preferred to use the easy mode that gives you a warning ahead of time when a Quick Time Event is coming and ample time to press because there are no take-backsies in this game.
As soon as you fail or succeed, the game will save so don’t think you can try to cheat your way out of a bad outcome. If you’re really willing to roll back on your actions, however, there is a scene selecting available from the main menu, and it will ask you if you want to overwrite your current save or create a new one.
No more tank controls
The last aspect of the gameplay is how you control characters. While it feels like over 50% of the game is watching cutscenes with minimal player input, you do get free control every now and then. And in Man of Medan, this was the true horror of the game.
You see, Man of Medan went with tank controls combined with static cameras from classic survival games. House of Ashes, on the other hand, has clearly listened to player and critic feedback and opted for a more natural feeling control scheme that leans closer to what people are used to from modern third-person action adventures.
Don’t stair at me!
Especially when you press RB and whip out your flashlight or lighter, it gives pretty accurate control of your characters. Dying because you didn’t press a button on time is on you but dying because your character walked into a trap that you were trying to avoid but that the game didn’t let you is extra frustrating. In House of Ashes, this is a thing of the past.
Masters of the camera
Like I have mentioned earlier, The Dark Pictures games are interactive drama games full of cutscenes. It’s no surprise then that there are a lot of cinematic influences here. From a monster close-up that resembles the famous scene of an Alien opening their mouth near Ellen Ripley, through monster-goggles like in Predator: moments where you see the action from the creatures’ point of view to make them seem extra menacing and untouchable.
— BloodyGoodReviews™ | Pirate PR ?☠️ (@BloodyGoodRev) October 25, 2021
There are even some classic film moments here that look and sound like old documentaries, whenever you find a journal page from 1947. I love how these framed the horrors as something that has been there throughout the ages of human technological evolution.
When the game really becomes spectacular is in action scenes with four or more playable characters in the same room and passing the control between them. The camera swoops across the large setpiece locations from one person to the next and makes good use of slow-motion to warn you of the transition. Seemless and downright impressive at times.
Great but campy acting
It borrows a lot from movie classics, most of all one of my favorite movies ever: Aliens. With the evolution of one Alien stalking a group of humans in cramped spaces like in the original, to a group of well-armed marines fighting a whole swarm of them. House of Ashes, is more of the latter, with much of the tension leaning on the action and body horror.
I won’t spoil how much these universes have in common to avoid ruining some of the surprises, but another thing they share is the campy acting. It’s never so frequent as to annoy and more often than not, characters keep a straight face, but when they do dip into one-liners and cheesy quotes, I actually caught myself smiling at the moment.
— BloodyGoodReviews™ | Pirate PR ?☠️ (@BloodyGoodRev) October 23, 2021
It’s clear to see how the series has improved with every new release and the facial animations are another clear checked box on that list. The humans express credible emotions, but it does threaten to dip into uncanny valley territory a few times, especially during close-ups.
The creatures are the ones that truly steal the show, however, with some of the best creature motion-capture I’ve seen in games and you can truly tell how much attention went into their design. (if you beat the game, there is even a bonus video that explains their creative process)
A visual feast
Which brings us to the graphics. The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes is a stunning-looking game, especially on the Xbox Series X with 4K visuals and HDR bringing life to even the darkest scenes. I played the game on an OLED TV set and with the game being as dark as it is, that really felt like it added a lot.
Speaking of which, I recall complaining about the dark environments in Man of Medan and sometimes not even being able to tell what I was doing, even in a darkened room without any light bleed polluting the screen output. I’ve not once suffered the same issues here and there is always a light source nearby to provide enough contrast.
Not being able to see would be torch-ure
The environments are a sight to behold and even made some sense after several playthroughs. By the end of my 3rd playthrough, I already had some sort of grasp on the temple layout.
While the Xbox Series X version loads scenes super fast, I did notice some HD textures settling in at the start of some perspective changes. It’s not all the time and it’s only a fraction of a second, but still noticeable.
How long to beat and complete
A single playthrough of House of Ashes will take around 5 hours if you spent a little time exploring and looking for secrets. But only playing the game once would be doing it a disservice.
There are so many possible endings and decisions that impact your story in a meaningful way, that I couldn’t help but boot the game up again right after beating it a first time with three survivors.
In my second playthrough, I managed to keep all five playable characters alive, and I was rewarded with a bunch of new scenes that I had missed in my first run. I applaud the developers for their clear vision here and I never once spotted a sequence error, unlike many other games with branching narratives.
Need a helping hand?
To spice up your next playthroughs, I would advise playing it in Movie Night mode (pass the controller) or with other people over an online connection. It’s marvelously done and actually does add some extra weight to the experience, especially if you each have an assigned character that can die permanently.
Beating the game 100% and getting all achievements will take around five playthroughs or careful use of the scene selection feature and meticulous use of a guide. You’re looking at around 18-20 hours of playing the same game over and over again to get the full 1000G. But at least you’ll have seen every possible outcome.
If only they would have included a way to skip cutscenes you had already seen before, like what was present in Life Is Strange: True Colors, that would have been a huge help!
…now THAT’s a helping hand!
Final thoughts on House of Ashes
Pros
The many branching narrative paths are masterfully thought out
The game looks fantastic and despite its setting; never too dark
It's rare to actually feel the consequence of your actions and choices as much as in House of Ashes
Cons
Facial animation still dips into uncanny valley at times
Really hard to complete 100% without a step-by-step guide
No way to skip cutscenes
FINAL SCORE: 4.5/5
The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes managed to surprise me. Its predecessor had lowered my expectations somewhat but after multiple playthroughs, I’m honestly impressed with how great of a survival horror game this ended up being.
The action is fantastic, even though it mostly takes the control out of the player’s hands and opts to use cutscenes for maximum effect. It’s rare when games succeed in making your mistakes or successes actually feel like they impact the story in a meaningful way, but House of Ashes does just that.
It’s a horror experience I won’t soon forget and that I will possibly remember as fondly as the movie classics it borrowed inspiration from.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes costs around $29.99 and is available on Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Playstation 4, and Playstation 5. If you want to try before you buy: there is also a free trial that should give you a good idea.
*Disclaimer: reviewed on Xbox Series X, Review copy provided by the publisher.
Earlier this year, Microsoft announced its plans to bring Fluid live components to Teams, allowing users to easily co-author content in chats and meetings. As spotted by Twitter user Paul Lange, Live Components are now available in public preview globally in the desktop and mobile versions of Teams.
The new Fluid components in Teams chats allow users to collaborate on task, lists, or tables in real-time and share them across other Office apps. The feature also enables meeting participants to create agendas, take notes, assign tasks to their colleagues, directly from the meeting window.
“Live components in Teams chat offer a new way to ideate, create, and make decisions together. Send a component—like a table, task list, or paragraph—where everyone in your chat can edit inline and see changes as they’re made. This means you can gather ideas and feedback from your team while holding fewer meetings and minimizing the need for long chat threads,” the company explained on a support page.
To get started, Microsoft Teams desktop users will need to click on the “Insert live components” icon and choose the component to add to their chat message. On mobile, navigate to the + menu and then tap Compose >> Components, and select the type of component. Finally, enter the content and tap the Send button.
The launch of Live components in Teams should help users get tasks done faster than ever before, but this is just the beginning. The company also plans to expand Fluid components to other platforms, including Microsoft Whiteboard, OneNote, and Outlook in the coming months.
The bundle is exclusive to Xbox Gear Shop and includes action figures based on Master Chief and the pilot from the Halo Infinite campaign in addition to two accessories and two bases. Everyone who places a pre-order will also receive a code via email which can be used to unlock a Neon Skull Weapon Charm in the Halo Infinite video game.
Enter the world of Halo Infinite with Jazwares new 4″ scale action figure series! This limited edition The Pilot and Master Chief 2-Pack brings together two pivotal characters from the Halo Infinite campaign story with a limited production bundle only available for purchase through the Xbox Gear Shop.
Bonus DLC:
Receive this exclusive Halo Infinite bonus in-game content [Neon Skull Weapon Charm] with the purchase of The Pilot and Master Chief 2-Pack. This in-game content code will be sent via e-mail including redemption instructions once your order has shipped.
This item is currently available for pre-order and is expected to ship in February 2022
Features:
2x 4″ World of Halo 4″ scale figures, the Pilot and Master Chief from Halo Infinite
2x weapon accessories, a Battle Rifle and a SPNKr Rocket Launcher
2x figure bases to stand and pose your figures on, these hexagonal bases can also connect to one another to create cool dioramas of figures together
World of Halo 4″ scale figures, vehicles, and weapons are all accurately scaled against one another as they appear in the Halo universe for an authentic play and display experience
In addition to the above action figure bundle, a variety of other Halo Infinite merch has also been added to the Xbox Gear Shop such as several new Halo T-shirts, two new cups, and some 20th anniversary playing cards. You can view them all here.
Microsoft published a rather cool and, at first seemingly random, video on the official Xbox YouTube channel last night that presents a wide range of exciting possibilities for Xbox consoles and gaming two decades from now.
Named, Xbox 2042, the concept video offers a glimpse of what gaming could look like in the year 2042 with an Xbox console or cloud service powered by technologies such as quantum computing, advanced AI, proper holographic interfaces, hardware that can interface directly with the human brain and eyes, and with games that can run at 240 frames-per-second (FPS) in 32K.
Check the Xbox 2042 video out below.
“Imagine the future for gaming powered by quantum computing and featuring the world’s first holographic UX,” the video description reads. “The fastest most powerful gaming experience ever made — capable of 1 exaFLOPS of processing power, 32K video and 240 frames-per-second — yet it’s 90% smaller, a gaming supercomputer you hold in the palms of your hands. Imagine Xbox 2042.
“Xbox 2042 is built to drive native 32K resolutions in Full Spectrum Color at a base frame rate of 240 FPS (up to 480 FPS) with zero latency. All games are now “instant-on” requiring no loading times whatsoever. Even cloud-based open-world games with worlds so enormous they have their own dedicated data centers load and sync instantly. The all-new holographic user experience is intuitive, extra-sensory and will forever change how you game.”
Amusingly, the description goes on to promise that this future Xbox platform will support full backwards compatibility and will launch with 70 video games with one of them being Battlefield 2042, the latest entry in the Battlefield franchise that’s actually due for release next month in November 2021.
Some fine print at the bottom of the video description confirms what most would expect after reading that last bit, that this video is in fact part of a promotion for Battlefield 2042’s launch on Xbox Series X. this year
“Xbox 2042 is a marketing campaign inspired by the highly anticipated release of Battlefield 2042, the text reads. “This is not an actual product announcement. Xbox Series X|S consoles and games sold separately in 2021.”
While the fact that this video is part of a promotion for a specific game is a bit of a downer, some of the ideas that it presents are pretty exciting to think about and honestly not that crazy given the speed of which technology is advancing.
For example, actual holograms that don’t require any kind of headset or eyewear are a lot closer than most would think. Check out this video by CNET for a look at some of the latest developments in that field.
What do you think about the Xbox 2042 video? Do you think we’ll see this level of tech in gaming by then? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest and Twitter for more Xbox news.
Microsoft is taking a very strange new approach with the way Microsoft Launcher works on the Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2. Spotted by Windows Central, it’s been confirmed that Microsoft Launcher (which basically powers the Duos) will now be updated via system updates instead of the Google Play Store.
This issue was first spotted over on Reddit. There, users mentioned that trying to go to the listing for Microsoft Launcher, or Microsoft Launcher Beta leads to the error that the app is not compatible with the Duo anymore. Many original Surface Duo users thought this was because of the Duo 2 and other compatibility issues, but Vishnu Nath responded to Windows Central’s Daniel Rubino and confirmed/ mentioned that the Duo launcher updates now happen via system updates.
Duo launcher updates will happen via system updates
— Vishnu Nath ????????????????⌨️???? (@VishnuNath) October 27, 2021
Nath’s tweet does not say much officially but there are some working assumptions as to why this is happening. It could be because Microsoft wants bigger controls of Microsoft Launcher on the Duo in ways that Google won’t allow via the Play Store updates. It also could mean that Launcher on the Duo and Duo 2 or Duo could be getting a re-write with new features. Windows Central reports that Microsoft previously talked about more customization options for the Duo, so the second option could be more likely.
Anyway, with Android 12L coming to support Surface Duo 2 and other large-screen devices, there’s a chance that this could be good news. We’ll have to wait and see what the news means and if Microsoft issues any further clarification.
About two and a half weeks ago I purchased a Surface Laptop Studio. Since then, I’ve been putting the system through my daily grinds, leading up to this review. Usually, I’d try to be just a tiny bit technical in my reviews and showcase benchmarks as well as other tests, but for this review, I’d like to tone things down a bit and keep it relatively standard.
That’s because my colleague Kareem Anderson is planning his own write-up on the Surface Laptop Studio. If you’re after a more technical take, you can look out for a more in-depth review in a few weeks. This piece will be a bit more simplistic, explaining why this is one of the best Surface devices I’ve ever owned.
I want to get the business out of the way first. The unit I purchased is one of the higher-end models. It comes configured with an Intel Core i7 11370H processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050Ti graphics. This unit retails for $2,100. I also picked up a Slim Pen 2, which is an additional $130. To try and save some cash, I checked out my Microsoft Rewards, giving me a slim $210 discount on everything.
Note that if you really want a Surface Laptop Studio, the base model starts at $1,600. That includes an Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and Intel’s Iris X graphics. There’s no GPU in the model, however, so your computing options will be a bit limited. All Surface Laptop Studio models come with Windows 11 Home pre-installed. If you want a model with Windows 10, you can buy one through Microsoft’s commercial store.
A special design
Leading off with the design, the Surface Laptop Studio is something special. Crafted out of cool-to-the-touch magnesium, the Laptop Studio feels similar to a Surface Pro when I run my hands on the top of it. Yet, from afar, it even looks like a MacBook (if you don’t peek down to see the Microsoft logo.) That’s because the device has a lot of curves to it, from the display bezels to the wrist rests. It’s quite a treat to look at, and it’s like Microsoft blended the best of both tech worlds together in one product.
Even so, the treat gets better once you deal with the screen. There are two hinges on the Laptop Studio. The first lets you open and close the lid like a regular laptop, and the second is tucked behind the screen. This second hinge is made of fabric and is held down by magnets. Pull the screen out towards you when in the regular “Laptop Mode,” and the screen moves down at an angle to the trackpad for “Stage Mode.” Then, pull it down once more to turn the Laptop Studio into a thick tablet in “Studio Mode” so you can draw and ink in a canvas-like experience.
The hinges on the Surface Laptop Studio
Overall, the transition between those modes is very fluent. In two weeks, the hinges held up to my wear and tear. I was worried it’d be too fragile but turns out that the hinges are plenty strong. Even when inking in the “Studio Mode,” the hinges held the screen down, and it didn’t move around too much as my wrist movements jiggled the screen. Microsoft has proven it is good with hinge systems thanks to the work it’s done on the Surface Pro lineup, so I’m not surprised that this one works well on the Laptop Studio.
This design isn’t original though. As many have pointed out, Microsoft seems to have borrowed the concepts of the Studio Mode and Stage Mode from the Sony VAIO Z Flip. The differentiating factor though is that the Surface Laptop Studio has a “hump” on the bottom. The hump allows for ventilation, as well as a place for Microsoft to put the GPU. Many complained about this “hump,” but I’ve come to realize it’s not even noticeable once the Laptop Studio sits on a desk or in my lap. The only times I’ve noticed it is when the GPU is in use, and air blows out from the side.
You barely can see the bottom hump on the Surface Laptop Studio
Another thing that people have complained about is the weight of the Laptop Studio. Coming in at around 4 pounds, I think the device is manageable. The magnesium material makes the device feel lighter than it is. Compared to my old HP ENVY 15, though, the compact form factor of the Laptop Studio is great. It’s relatively small, and light, when put up against gaming laptops with this same GPU inside (The Legion 5 is 5.28 pounds, as an example.)
Even Apple’s new M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBooks are in the same weight class, coming in at around 3.5-4.8 pounds. So I don’t see a reason to complain. When you want all the power of a dedicated GPU, you’ll have to sacrifice something, and it comes at the weight. Thickness, though, is alright. This isn’t a brick in terms of design, as the system measures just around 0.7 inches thick.
Good performance but could be better
When it comes to overall performance, the Surface Laptop Studio was good enough for my needs, but I won’t lie, there is one flaw. For $2,100, seeing quad-core Intel H-series processors inside the Laptop Studio is a letdown. You can find a better laptop with an 8-core processor for the same price (the XPS 15 or XPS 17 are examples,)
For a Surface, though, there’s plenty of CPU power on the Laptop Studio. This is because, for the first time, Microsoft is using 35-watt processors in this laptop form factor. Microsoft also said that it uses a custom framework to manage the CPU and GPU power, to help in real-world tasks. That’s so that when the CPU is paired with the GPU in tasks like encoding videos or gaming, there will be enough power to go around to both.
In my daily grinds, I used the Laptop Studio for work at OnMSFT and my other publication. I handled a combination of 10+ tabs in Microsoft Edge, and two sessions of Teams (one as a PWA.) The Laptop Studio’s 16 GB of RAM kept up with no issues. Even when handling Windows Updates in the background, and using Edge, the Studio kept up fine. Plus, I did plug my Laptop Studio into a 4K monitor, with Microsoft Flight Simulator on one screen, and Edge on another, and the device didn’t lock up, but the CPU and GPU usage were very high.
Sorry for the poor recording. But Here is Microsoft Flight Simulator running on the Surface Laptop Studio. 1080p resolution. High end settings. Feels Surprisingly smooth. Windows 11 Xbox Game Bar doesn't have the frames widget for me to count though? :/ GTX 3050 TI not too bad. pic.twitter.com/LPYBBo68c9
As far as the GPU and the RTX 3050 Ti go, it’s manageable. Heavy gaming and CPU demanding tasks might be limited by the quad-cores in the Laptop Studio, but the performance will get you by for most tasks. As seen above, Microsoft Flight Simulator runs just fine and around 30-45 frames per second in medium settings and at 1080p on the Laptop Studio. At the native resolution, it’s a playable level, too. I did notice, however, that Flight Simulator kept warning me about the limits of the CPU when I toggled into developer mode of the game to see frames.
Surface Laptop Studio is amazing. This is my personal benchmark. I encoded a 57 minute long 1080p 60FPS @onmsft Podcast in 16 mins on the Laptop Studio! The file is 6.8GB with lots of B-roll. Encoded using M.264 on video and AAC on Audio. Very impressive. Proud of my purchase! pic.twitter.com/VGnPSa8cS6
When it comes to video encoding, I was very impressed. The Laptop Studio punched out an hour-long 1080p and 60 FPS OnPodcast episode (a 6GB file) in about 16 minutes. And, in a shorter episode, in 10 minutes. In both cases, the original file I worked with in Filmora had a lot of B-roll and audio. Nvidia’s CUDA cores in the new RTX GPUs really come out here and show the possibilities of the Laptop Studio.
An amazing keyboard and trackpad for “Laptop Mode”
Performance and design done, it’s time to talk about the keyboard and trackpad. In these areas, I’d like to compare the experience to a MacBook Pro, as well as a Surface Pro 8.
The typing experience on the Surface Laptop Studio is akin to the Surface Type Cover, mixed with a regular Surface Laptop. In terms of key spacing, it’s exactly like the Laptop 4 or Laptop 3. And with keypresses, my fingers easily hit the gray keycaps, and there’s a lot of comfortable action and feedback when the keys go into the chassis. The backlighting is also pretty even, and it looks pretty amazing when typing at night.
As for the new haptic trackpad, it’s one of the best on a Windows laptop. It feels exactly like the one on the MacBook Pro (smooth and fluent,) yet it’s better in a few ways. First of all, the palm rejection is on point. Secondly, you can customize your feedback levels to make clicks feel harder, or softer. It’s pretty amazing to be able to click anywhere on the trackpad to accomplish tasks in Windows 11.
A bright and vibrant display for “Stage Mode”
In talking about the display, I want to mention the “Stage Mode.” This mode pulls the Laptop Studio’s display near to your face and hides your keyboard. It’s one enjoyable way to watch movies as well as TV shows. I’ll admit I spent most of my time in “Laptop Mode,” but this mode is where I went for multimedia, and I’m glad I did. The Laptop Studio’s display is one of the brightest and most vibrant on a Surface.
I did run some tests with my Spyder5 colorimeter, and the Studio put up some good numbers. It measured close to 450 nits and recorded 100% of the sRGB spectrum, 81% AdobeRGB, and 88% DCI-P3. If those numbers don’t mean much to you, then let me put them in words. I watched the September Surface event on the Laptop Studio, and it felt as though Panos Panay was in the room with me. I noticed all the fine details from the shine on his watch, to the dust on his black jacket.
In other specs, the 14.4-inch display on the Laptop Studio hits 2400×1600 resolution. Of course, it’s in the 3:2 aspect ratio, for more vertical room for multitasking. I wish the resolution was higher, but the color accuracy makes up for the lack of pixels. Plus, tweaking the display scaling always adds more room on the display, too. I hope one day Microsoft introduces a 16 or 15-inch model, especially considering the bezels on the Laptop Studio are relatively big.
There are some special features on the display. For the first time, you get a 120Hz refresh rate on a Surface product. This brings Windows 11 to life and makes animations feel crisp and smooth. In gaming, it also helps with making the action feel smoother, too. 120 Hz is still the default, and Microsoft has yet to enable Dynamic Refresh Rates, where the laptop can pick the rate it needs. Also enabled by default is support for Dolby Vision HDR. When you download the optional Dolby Access App, the Laptop Studio can enhance your movies and content to give you almost OLED quality blacks, contrasts, and colors.
Microsoft even throws in a neat software feature called “wake on touch.” If the Laptop Studio is in Stage Mode, you can double-tap the screen to wake it up. Just like an iPhone or iPad. The option is hidden under Touch settings.
The inking with Slim Pen 2 in “Studio Mode”
I’m not much of an artist, but the Laptop Studio makes me wish I was. Like the Surface Pro 8, the Laptop Studio has support for haptics, or what Microsoft calls “tactile signals,” in the screen. With this, as you tap the Surface Slim Pen 2 to the display, you get a little haptic feedback for that true pen-to-paper feel. It’s a subtle feel, but it’s mind-blowing the first time you try it. Several apps including OneNote, Word, Whiteboard, Adobe Fresco, Sketchable, all support the technology at the moment. The Fresh Paint app I used for the photo above, though, doesn’t. Seems like it’s up to developers to support the technology.
Along with the 120 Hz screen, this makes inking feel so smooth and natural. Plus, the convenience of having the pen stored under the Studio makes you want to pick up the pen and draw. I just wish that the display was a little less reflective, though. As you can tell from my photos, there’s no anti-glare technology in play here on the Laptop Studio.
Needs more ports
Apple recently went back in time and added more ports to its new MacBook Pros, and I wish the Laptop Studio had done the same based on the Surface Book 3. It only has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a headphone jack, and a Surface Connect Port. Thunderbolt 4 allows for dual monitor support without dongles or docks, as well as external GPUs and faster transfers between external drives — a first for a Surface.
That’s cool and all. I enjoyed moving podcast stuff from my Samsung T5 SSD over to my system with speed (it took less than 15 seconds for about 15GB of files,) but I find myself always keeping a dongle on my desk when using the Laptop Studio for my keyboard and mouse. An extra USB-A port, or a MicroSD card reader would have been appreciated.
The speakers and webcam, though, do somewhat make up for the lack of ports. Microsoft opts for a Front-facing 2.1 megapixel 1080p Windows Hello webcam, a boost from the 720p on the Surface Book 3. I used the in-built webcam on the Surface Laptop Studio to podcast, and could barely tell a difference over my dedicated external Dell webcam.
Was checking Reddit and heard that guy MKBHD said the speakers on the Surface Laptop Studio aren't good. Idk what he's talking about. I'm jamming out to the Flight Simulator theme right now at 100% and feels like my table is gonna fall down with all the bass lol. pic.twitter.com/6qZePETqOS
And for the speakers, there are four Omnisonic speakers on the Laptop Studio. These are some of the loudest I’ve heard on a Surface. There are two bass speakers on the side, and two under the keyboard deck. Despite what MKBHD says in his review, these speakers impress. The Laptop Studio can even have sound profiles that adapt to the postures you use the device in. In moving to “Stage Mode,” sound comes out the sides, but in “Laptop Mode,” sound comes out the top.
As always, I’ll end with battery life. The Laptop Studio in my tests comes home with around 9-10 hours of battery, maximum. I uploaded my battery report to Reddit, and you can see it above if you’re curious. In keeping the display to 34% brightness, and at 60Hz, I get around 9 hours of web browsing and multimedia consumption. At 120Hz, the difference isn’t that noticeable, and the numbers come in the same. That’s still far off the 19 hours Microsoft mentions in the product listing.
In terms of using the Laptop Studio’s dedicated GPU on battery, don’t expect it to last 19 hours either. In my tests, I only got 2 hours of battery when working on encoding a podcast, with an external SSD attached to the system. In all games, you’ll only get 30fps max, too. The Laptop Studio is more of a desktop machine, and to get the most out of it, I suggest plugging it into the wall most times.
A laptop for Surface fans
If you’re hoping to buy the Surface Laptop Studio, then do it. From the display to the overall performance of the dGPU, it’s one excellent machine. Sure, you can find a laptop that’s better-performing for the same price, but not many laptops with a dGPU offer up the different modes of use and inking support that the Laptop Studio has. For fans of Microsoft, the Laptop Studio is excellent. It takes everything learned from Surface Pro, Surface Laptop, and Surface Book, and puts it all together in one fantastic product.
iPhone is one world’s foremost smartphone series that has revolutionized mobile computing in more ways than one. Aside from communication, users utilize Apple mobiles to capture photos and videos. Those files are saved on their iCloud storage.
There are two ways you can transfer photos, videos, music, and other files between your mobile and the PC. One way is to connect the iPhone to a PC with a USB cable. Then you can transfer files with iTunes or alternative software.
Alternatively, you can transfer files between your iPhone and the computer with iCloud cloud storage. That method eliminates the need for USB cables as you don’t need to connect devices. Instead, files are saved in your cloud storage, which you can then access on PC with the iCloudWindows app.
The second method is a much more convenient one. You can sync the files on your iPhone with a Windows 11 PC thanks to the iCloud app. Then you’ll be able to access iCloud folders in File Explorer as outlined below.
What is cloud storage used for?
Cloud storage is quite simply a service that enables users to save (upload) files within an online account. You can download files from your cloud storage accounts onto devices. Apple iCloud is the default cloud storage service for iPhones and iPads.
Many cloud storage services offer a few gigabytes of free storage space. You can pay subscriptions to expand the amount of storage space you have.
You can utilize cloud storage in both browsers and with downloadable apps. The iCloud for Windows app is one you can install on desktops and laptops. That app is freely available and enables file synchronization between Windows PCs and iOS mobile devices.
What do I need to sync my iPhone files with Windows 11?
To utilize the iCloud app in Windows 11, you’ll need an Apple ID. The vast majority of iPhone users will no doubt have an Apple ID account for downloading apps. The iCloud cloud storage is a part of your Apple account.
You’ll also need a Microsoft account for Windows 11. That account is required for downloading and installing the iCloud for Windows app. You can set one up on the Microsoft account website.
Aside from that, you’ll need devices that meet the minimum system requirements for iCloud. Apple’s System requirements for iCloud page provides full details for the recommended and minimum system requirements.
How can I sync iPhone files with Windows 11 PC?
1. Download and install iCloud for Windows 11
First, sign in to your Microsoft account via the MS account site if you’re not already.
Press the Start menu’s taskbar button in Windows 11.
Click the Microsoft Store app on the Start menu.
TypeiCloud for Windows in the MS Store app’s search box.
Select the iCloud app in the search results.
Click the Get button for the iCloud for Windows app to download and install it.
If you’ve tried to apply the above steps and you received an Upgrade to iCloud error, check out this guide on what to do if iCloud won’t install on Windows 10. Although the guide is for Windows 10, it would assist you when applying the steps in Windows 11 too.
2. Set up iCloud File Explorer syncing in Windows 11
NOTE
You must be signed in to the same Apple ID account on the iPhone you want to sync with Windows 11.
Click the magnifying glass for Windows 11’s search tool to bring up that utility.
Enter iCloud in the search box to find your newly installed app.
ClickiCloud to the launch that app.
When you first open iCloud, you’ll see a login window. Type your Apple ID login details within the two text boxes.
Press the Sign in button.
Select either the Don’t send or Automatically send option according to preference on the Send diagnostic prompt that opens.
Thereafter, select theiCloud Drive and Photos checkboxes if they’re not already checked.
Click the Options button for Photos.
For file syncing purposes, it’s best to select the iCloud Photos and Shared Albums options.
Click the Done button on the Photos Options window.
3. Move your PC’s files to iCloud Drive and Photos
Open File Explorer by clicking the folder button on the taskbar.
Next, open a document, video, or photos folder in File Explorer.
Left-click a file to move into youriCloud Drive and hold the left mouse button.
Then drag that file onto iCloud Drive on the left side of File Explorer.
Release the left mouse button when the Move to iCloud Drive cursor tooltip is visible. Then the file will be included in iCloud Drive.
If you want to transfer images and videos saved on your PC to your mobile, it’s better to drag-and-drop pictures into iCloud Photos on File Explorer’s sidebar. You’ll be able to see the images moved into iCloud Photos on your iPhone’s Photos app.
NOTE
You’ll need to have iCloud Photos enabled on your iPhone to sync photographs and video. To do so, tap iCloud, then Photos in Settings. Finally, turn on the iCloud Photos setting.
Can’t I just utilize the iCloud web app instead?
Sure, you can sign in to the iCloud web app on both Windows and mobile browsers. However, you won’t get the neat iCloud File Explorer file syncing by utilizing the web app.
You’ll have to manually download and upload files on your PC and iPhone to transfer files with your cloud storage.
What are the alternative cloud storage apps for Apple iOS devices?
Google Drive, DropBox, DropBox, and OneDrive are three of the most notable cloud storage alternatives to Apple’s iCloud.
All of those services have downloadable apps for both Windows and iOS mobiles. You can also sync files between iPhones and Windows PCs with those cloud storage apps.
However, it’s best to utilize the free cloud storage space available for your iPhone’s iCloud storage first, which amounts to 5 GB. When you run out of iCloud space, consider adding Google Drive to your iPhone. The Google Drive cloud storage offers 15 GB of free space.
The iCloud for Windows app is invaluable for linking Apple mobile devices with Windows 11 PCs. With that app installed, iCloud will become more like an extension of your PC’s hard drive with which you can seamlessly transfer files between Windows 11 PCs and iOS phones.
Installing iCloud for Windows will also make it much easier to access photos captured with your iPhone’s camera on a PC. Snapshots taken with an iPhone will become automatically available within the iCloud Photos folder in File Explorer.
So, the advantages of utilizing the iCloud for Windows app are obvious enough. It’s a great app for syncing iPhones with Windows 11 computers.
At first glance, you’d be forgiven for mistaking They Always Run for a Metroidvania. It certainly looks like one, and at times it almost pretends to be one. But despite slowly drip-feeding you new abilities and powers throughout the runtime, it’s a much more linear experience than a Metroidvania.
I hasten to add that this is not a bad thing. I’m certainly not criticizing a game for setting out to tell a cohesive story and actually telling it. And in actual fact not having to constantly backtrack through areas is oddly refreshing. It also makes more sense in They Always Run, since your prey is always going one way and you’re always chasing their tails.
Eat, sleep, prey
Well, tails and claws and mechanical arms, since few of your marks are ordinary humans. They Always Run takes place in an almost Star Wars-esque universe, where multiple sentient species live in an often hard-fought peace on the fringes of the galaxy. You’ll frequent bars and settlements with more than a hint of Space Western about them. There’s nothing quite as dense or colorful as the Mos Eisley Cantina, but you get the idea.
Our protagonist is Aiden, a three-armed bounty hunter who may or may not be one of the last remnants of an ancient civilization. Generally regarded as a mutated freak, Aiden spends his days seeking out the worst scum in the solar system, bringing them either to the police or to private investors with more nefarious intentions.
The story begins with Aiden on the hunt for The Rat, a mechanized criminal with a small private army. Ambushed and imprisoned in the opening moments, you’ll soon be using a combination of Aiden’s abilities and guidance from his ship’s AI, Jonathan, to escape.
They Always Run: Hit counter
Combat is clunky and weighty and ridiculously fun in They Always Run. Aiden has three arms with three blades or three guns, and so you can engage up to three enemies at once. A blue glow indicates that you can perform a counterattack, which will insta-kill an opponent. There’s a great variety of animations for these counters, and each one is equally cool and satisfying to execute. Being 2D, enemies can only really come at you from the front and back, or occasionally from above.
With the right timing, you can dodge bullets, leap behind your enemies, insta-kill several goons at once, or shoot up to three cyborg killing machines in one hit. Aiden will unlock more skills and abilities as you progress, such as rocket boots to allow double jumps and an environmental scanner to highlight hidden switches.
You can also find out which seemingly random enemies also have bounties on their heads, and you can then beat them senselessly and activate a teleporter to send them to the nearest cop shop. It’s an interesting system, but one that feels kind of underused. I’d have preferred something other than currency for this, and seeking out particular bounties could have rewarded things like rare cosmetics, for example.
Wanted: Dead or alive
Currency is used as XP at the black market, where you’ll unlock and upgrade Aiden’s various gadgets and gizmos. Bullets can over-penetrate foes, or you can increase the range of your scanner, etc. It’s nothing terribly unique or fresh, but it all works in context with the world you’re in. But all the time I was playing I couldn’t help but think of Dead Cells. With this gameplay and that gear system, you’d have a masterpiece.
Another particularly cool element is the way you bring in bounties. Important marks can’t be teleported to the cops, see? Criminals pay better and often set the bounties Aiden follows. Instead, you’ll need to render your prey inert and physically carry them back to your ship. You can either kill them, which reduces the payday, or use Aiden’s third arm to knock them unconscious.
This third arm has a variety of uses, such as breaking hard-to-reach switches or smashing through a guard’s defenses. Build up enough energy and you can also use it to unleash a powerful attack. The fact that it can be launched in any direction is pretty cool, but it makes you wonder why it doesn’t feature more in the platforming. That said, you can get a grappling hook and the ability to slide upwards on ropes and pipes, but the third arm doesn’t feel super necessary for that.
Galaxy of outlaws
It really doesn’t matter though, because what’s here is more than enough bang for your buck. Add in the fact that it’s also quite well written, with some genuine humor and a few decent story twists, and you’ve got a recipe for a great little indie game here. The music is just exceptional all the time, a combination of synth and strings that feels perfectly at home among the retro-futuristic factories, sewers, and junkyard planets.
They Always Run also looks gorgeous throughout. Yes, the combat is a little stilted, but this feels deliberate. The traversal is sublime, chaining slides and jumps and hook shots. During the chase sequences when the music is up and the chips are down, it feels unmatched by other side-scrolling adventure games.
The animation style works well with the high-res pixel art, and little details in the environments and characters make a subtle difference that you would only notice in their absence. The worlds you’ll traverse are nothing we haven’t seen many times over, but they work within the context of the story.
Grim future
There are some bugs hidden in the code though. Mostly they relate to the animation, but there are little annoyances with the collision that can be irritating. Once or twice Aiden completely missed a ledge or pipe despite obviously reaching it, though thankfully the checkpointing is pretty lenient.
Boss battles are the only issue here, as some can go on for quite a while. They’re usually a variation on hit-and-run tactics, without a great deal of nuance. They’re not overly common, but compared to the moments where you’ve just got to run from or chase after something, they can feel limited.
Completion and achievments
Being a PC exclusive (so far) They Always Run doesn’t feature trophies or achievements. Its linear nature also means there won’t be any replaying of chapters for secrets and collectibles. As a result, a straight playthrough will take around 10 hours and there’s not much of a reason to go back.
Final thoughts on They Always Run
Pros
Looks amazing
Soundtrack is great
Intriguing and compelling story
Cons
Some minor bugs here and there
Occasional difficulty spikes
Boss fights aren't great
Final Score: 4/5
With so many titles at the moment vying for attention, it’s easy to overlook something like They Always Run, but it’d be a shame to do so. With a compelling story, an interesting main character, and a familiar but exciting world, it’s worth checking for any fan of 2D action games.
Don’t confuse it for a Metroidvania, though. This is a more straightforward adventure with little backtracking and a fairly compact skill tree that focuses on gear rather than intrinsic abilities. Despite a handful of minor bugs, it’s a well-made romp that feels fresh and familiar at the same time.
They Always Run is available now on PC and costs $14.99. There is currently no word on a console release. You can check out the system requirements on Steam.
*Disclaimer: Reviewed on Windows 10. Review code provided by the publisher.
Microsoft Forms will soon receive a new update that will allow users to create quizzes with time limits. The news comes from a recent update to the Microsoft 365 roadmap, which suggests that the “Timed quiz” feature is expected to arrive in January 2022.
With Timed quiz, Microsoft Forms will be able to set a time limit for respondents to complete a quiz, and once the time is up, it will be submitted automatically. The feature is aimed at Education customers, but the Microsoft 365 roadmap indicates that it’s also coming to business and GCC tenants. Google Forms has long offered similar functionality (via third-party add-ons), so it’s nice to see Microsoft Forms finally getting a native integration.
Overall, this new Timed quiz feature should be a welcome addition, and it can help to restrict respondents from looking up answers from other sources across the web. Microsoft Forms has recently added new organization capabilities, and you can find more details in our separate post.
Dell has launched a new performance-first desktop carrying the XPS badging. The new XPS desktop will be coming later this fall, starts at $919, and includes options for 12th generation Intel Core i9 processors, Nvidia RTX 30 Series GPUs, or AMD Radeon RX GPUs. It also comes shipped with Windows 11 Home or Pro pre-installed.
Compared to the previous generation, the new XPS desktop is designed to help you expand your creative possibilities and even gaming options. It has a physically bigger chassis, which enables bigger and better graphics cards. Dell notes that the tower itself is now 42% larger than before, which allows for improved airflow, and liquid cooling for better performance.
Under the hood, the XPS desktop comes with options for up to the 12th generation Intel Core i9-12900K processor, up to Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3090, or AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT Graphics. The RAM is also DDR5, which has a faster clock speed than DDR4. Dell is including options for up to a 750w power supply, which can support up to 350W graphics, PCIe5 graphics, four storage bays, and three PCIe expansion slots.
There’s an optional “Creators edition” available which includes optional NVIDIA Studio drivers. The new XPS desktop ships in two color options. There is one model with a Night Sky resin front bezel with aluminum sides and rubber feet. The other model is Platinum Silver and comes with an aluminum bezel and sides plus a mineral white resin base with aluminum feet.
Alongside the XPS desktop, Alienware also revealed the new Aurora R13 and Ryzen Edition R14, powered by Intel and AMD processors. These gaming desktops offer tool-less entry, and Dell says it’s one of Alienware’s most accessible and upgradable desktops to date. These Alienware desktops have the new curvaceous Legend 2.0 chassis, which has an open-air design to increase performance. Unlike the XPS desktop, these are now available, with pricing starting at $1,480 on the R13, and $1,250 on the R14.
Windows 11 was released to the general public, but the rollout will stretch until the middle of the next year.
So, even if you have received the message that your PC is ready for Windows 11, you don’t know yet when you will have the go message to make it happen.
Your PC is ready for Windows 11
However, you can install Windows 11 even if your turn hasn’t arrived yet, and there are plenty of ways to do that, as you will see below.
But first of all, if you didn’t receive the message above in the Update & Security section, you need to check if your PC meets the Windows 11 minimum requirements.
You need to know that you can bypass the TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements, but we don’t recommend going through, with the procedures below if your other specifications prevent you from installing it.
Once the file finished downloading, run it to install PC Health Check.
Click the Finish button and this will open the app.
The last thing to do is to hit the Check now button.
We hope that you will see a message that will say that This PC meets Windows 11 requirements. You can click on See all results or on Device specifications to get more information but that’s all up to you.
If your PC passed the test, we can finally go through with the methods of installing Windows 11 without the assistant.
However, at this point, we urge you to create a backup for any important files on your drive. Although some of the options don’t affect your files, it’s an extra precaution.
How can I install Windows 11 without the assistant?
1. Use the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool
NOTE
For this procedure, you will need a USB flash drive of at least 8 GB in capacity.
Once it’s downloaded, run the file and click on Accept after reading the terms.
Now you can either go with the recommended options, or uncheck the box and select your desired language, then click the Next button.
Select the USB flash drive, then hit Next.
At this point, you need to connect the USB media, to select it from the list, then click the Next button.
Make sure you have a steady Internet connection at this point because the tool will download Windows 11 and will create the bootable copy on your USB media. Click Finish at the end of the process.
Now, press the Windows key + E to start File Explorer, browse your USB flash drive, and select the Windows 11 setup file to start the installation process.
You can also restart your PC, enter BIOS, and change the boot sequence so that the removable device or the USB has the boot priority.
This method will take a few extra minutes than the one that implies using the Installation Assistant. Still, in the end, you will also have a recovery USB media that you will be able to use anytime your system is in trouble.
Make sure you have a steady Internet connection at this point because the tool will download Windows 11 and create the bootable copy on your USB media. Click Finish at the end of the process. If you would rather complete setup offline, check this guide on installing Windows 11 without internet.
Next, you will be prompted to select the product language and click the Confirm button.
Now, click the 64 bit Download button. The link is valid for 24 hours.
Wait for the ISO file to completely download, then press the Windows key + E to start File Explorer, navigate to the location of the file, right click on it, and select Mount from the list of options.
The only thing left to do is to access the virtual DVD Drive that was created and click on the setup file to start the Windows 11 installation.
Of course, you can also burn the Windows 11 ISO on a DVD to create a bootable USB drive and have a hard copy that will help you restore your system if something wrong happens.
Even though you might avoid using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant because it checks for the minimum requirements, this is the easiest way of upgrading.
So, if your PC meets the minimum requirements, here’s how to use the Installation Assistant.
Go to the Microsoft dedicated download page and click on the Download now button under Windows 11 Installation Assistant.
Run the downloaded file and click on Accept and install.
The tool will begin the 3 step process to download and install Windows 11.
When it finishes, you will only need to restart your PC, and your Windows 11 will boot up.
How to check for new updates in Windows 11?
Before letting you enjoy the change, we will also help you find out if there are any updates for the OS.
You must do this from time to time, and it’s imperative to check them right after installing Windows 11 because there might be new drivers and security patches to install.
Click the Start button and select Settings.
Now choose Windows Update from the left and hit the Check for updates button from the right.
If there are any new updates, the system will download and install them right away.
That’s it! You have a new copy of Windows 11 installed on your PC, and we hope that our solutions helped you perform the upgrade seamlessly.
You have to keep in mind that Windows 11 is still a new OS, and there may be a lot of bugs and errors bothering you, but you will also find solutions for them here on our website.
If you change your mind and don’t want to upgrade, there is also the option to install Windows 11 on a virtual machine and test it without implications for your PC.
You will need more physical memory to load it, but once you run it on the VM, you can test its features in a controlled environment.
For any questions or suggestions, you can use the dedicated comments section below, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
The cursor (otherwise pointer) is that little arrow you move with the mouse in Windows 11. Some users like to customize mouse cursors by changing their colors. You can do the same with the methods below.
Why stick with the same old plain white mouse pointer all the time? You may modify your cursor’s color to one that matches a selected accent color in Windows 11 to enhance your theme’s consistency.
Changing a mouse pointer’s color is also one way to enhance its visibility. Moreover, modifying both the cursor’s color and expanding its size will make the mouse pointer clearer.
Are there any new Windows 11 settings for the cursor’s color?
Windows 11’s mouse pointer settings haven’t changed much from its predecessor. Therefore, the color options for cursors in Settings are much the same as before. You can change the cursor color via Settings as outlined below.
Aside from that, feel free to customize your mouse cursor by downloading new cursor theme packs for Windows 11. They aren’t anything new either, but you can also change your mouse cursor’s color with them.
How do I change the cursor’s color in Windows 11?
1. Use Settings
First, click Start on Windows 11’s taskbar.
Select Settings on the Start menu to open that app’s window.
Enter the keyword mouse pointer style in the search box within Settings.
Then click Mouse pointer style in the search findings to open the options in the screenshot directly below:
Next, click the Custom button with the green mouse cursor icon on it.
Then you can select one of the recommended cursor colors.
Alternatively, click Choose another color to open the color picker tool.
Choose a color by holding the left mouse button and dragging the circle with your cursor.
To configure your chosen color more, drag the Value bar there to the left and right.
Press the Done button when you’ve finished.
2. Download new cursor schemes that have different colors
Select a cursor set there that has your alternative color of preference. If you want a red cursor, for example, select a cursor set based on that color.
Click the Download button for your cursor set.
Next, select a folder to download the cursor set’s ZIP archive to on the Save As window.
Press the Save button on the window.
Open File Explorer by clicking the folder icon on Windows 11’s taskbar.
Now open the folder you downloaded the cursor set to.
Select the cursor set’s ZIP archive, and click the Extract all button in File Explorer.
Click Browse in the extraction window that opens to choose a path for the extracted folder.
Then press the Extract button.
Apply your new cursor scheme in Windows 11
Press the Windows + I keyboard keys at the same time to bring up Settings.
Type the keyword Mouse settings within the search box in Settings.
Click Mouse settings to bring up the window that you can see below:
Then click Additional mouse settings to open a Mouse Properties window.
Select that window’s Pointers tab.
Click the Scheme drop-down menu to select a scheme to change the cursors for.
Next, select one of the scheme’s cursors to change. It’s best to change the normal select cursor.
Press the Browse button.
Then select a cursor from your downloaded cursor pack, and click the Open button.
When you’ve finished customizing your selected cursor set, click the Save As option.
Enter a name for the cursor set, and click the OK button.
Then press the Apply button.
Click OK to close the Mouse Properties window.
How do I change my cursor in Windows 11?
The Windows 11 Control Panel includes additional customization options you can further change the cursor with. By using those options, you can select alternative black or white cursor size options. You can modify the Control Panel’s cursor options as follows:
First, open the search box by clicking the magnifying glass on the taskbar.
Next, type Control Panel in the search box.
Click Control Panel to bring up its window.
Now select the Ease of Access Center applet.
Click the Change how your mouse works to bring up the options that you can see below:
Then select a different mouse pointer radio button there. For example, choose the Large Inverting option if you prefer to have a larger black mouse pointer.
Click Apply to save the new cursor options.
So, that’s how you can change the cursor’s color in Windows 11. Modifying the mouse cursor’s color is just one way you can customize the pointer. The OS includes many more customization settings for the mouse.
As we are nearing the end of the year, Microsoft may have yet another announcement in store for its users. According to the rumors, the device is more education-focused and affordable.
Chromebooks are widely used in schools, and now Microsoft wants a stake in the market. Upon releasing the laptop, Microsoft may also release a new Windows 11 variant.
If you may recall, during the Surface event held a few weeks ago, an array of its flagship devices and now, an affordable version is coming soon.
Specifications
The new laptop is expected to have an 11.6-inch display, 8GB memory, and a low-end quad-core Intel Celeron N4120 processor.
It will also have USB-A and a USB-C port and charge either through the USB-C or AC ports, just like the Surface devices.
Reduced price
The device will not follow the usual Surface screen 3:2 aspect ratio as these will be 16:9. In addition, they may not be available for retail as the major clientele is educational institutions. They will probably be offering them in bulk which will significantly reduce the prices.
From the reports on Twitter, It would seem that this is a very well-received piece of news as users are hopeful with the expected release.
With low-cost hardware powering the world of education, Windows 11 SE could be a great way to get Microsoft's OS into the hands of users around the world!
The details on the Windows 11 SE are very scattered, so the assumption from the report is that it could be a Windows 10 but in S mode. The OS is expected to run Microsoft Store apps and can be upgraded to Windows 10.
Others suggest that it could be an enterprise version without the Microsoft Store and limited apps and settings.
We can only wait and see what the OS will have and what it won’t.
Competition with Chromebooks
It has been a tradition for Microsoft to offer low-cost Windows versions with limited abilities, but it seems this new version may be somewhat different. This new device should be able to give educators a way to reuse the blackboard, just like Chromebooks.
This would be the company’s first and using its hardware which in the past, it enabled other hardware makers to offer the OS for a cheaper price.
Microsoft is yet to make a statement on the new Windows 11 SE version when the release of either the device or OS will be available. We will be on the lookout in case there are any new developments.
What features would you like to see included in the Surface device dedicated to educators? Let us know in the comment section below.
Since all people can talk about nowadays is if they can run Windows 11 or not, know that if you have a PC running the Windows 10 OS, then Microsoft is bringing its PC Health Check app to your device via a new software update.
This application became popular after it offered users a way to check Windows 11 eligibility. So this means that you don’t even have to be a Windows Insider in order to get it, you’ll have it handy in case you need it.
Microsoft is delivering the diagnosis app via update
The Redmond-based tech company actually said that PC Health Check will be delivered to existing Windows 10 PCs running version 2004 or later, via KB50005463.
For the moment, you need to be an Insider in order to get your hands on the app, but that is all going to change with the new Windows Update.
Anf since we were talking about utility, the PC Health Check app is meant to do a lot more than just checking for Windows 11 compatibility.
The popular software also lets you set up OneDrive’s backup and sync, check battery and storage capacity, manage startup time, and throws tips to improve overall performance.
With all this being said, know that the app isn’t of much use now as the Windows Update page already fulfills its primary purpose and shows whether your PC can run Windows 11 or not.
What if I don’t wnt the PC Health Check app on my PC?
Well, nobody said it was mandatory for you to keep it or use it. Indeed, Microsoft will do us the courtesy of providing us with the application, but if you simply don’t want it, you can easily remove it.
Yes, of course, we will tell you how you can do this, but we bet that you already know seeing how this is no different than any other application on your PC.
Access the Settings app.
Select the Apps category.
Navigate to Apps & Features.
Locate the PC Health Check app in the list and click on it.
Press the Uninstall button.
That’s all you have to do if you have no use for this software whatsoever. However, if you are planning an upgrade to the latest OS, it might be useful.
What’s your opinion on Microsoft’s latest decision? Let us know in the comments section below.
As we round the corner on the holiday and shipping dates have already begun to slip, Microsoft is looking to get its gift guide out early to help sell its wares and give buyers enough time to purchase.
The Microsoft Store is hosting discounts on everything from game subscriptions to eco-conscious mice peripherals with promised free 2 – 3-day shipping windows, extended warranties, an “extended low price promise”, and scheduled personal set-ups and training sessions with experts for the best gift buying experience.
Perfect for eco-conscious shoppers looking to improve their office space:
Made with 20% recycled ocean plastic, a breakthrough in materials technology that begins with the removal of plastic waste from oceans and waterways
Includes an exclusive ocean-inspired theme pack to customize your Windows desktop background
These are just a handful of the latest items in the Microsoft Store that are being highlighted but there are more savings on items such as $500.00 off on a Razer Blade 15 RZ09 gaming PC, Harry Potter Kano Coding Kits, Minecraft for Windows Starter Collection Xbox Stereo Headsets, and more.
Microsoft has unveiled a new partnership with the e-commerce platform Shopify to improve the shopping experience for consumers living in the Microsoft ecosystem. The company has announced that shopping tabs in Microsoft Edge and its Bing Search engine now display listings from 1.7 million Shopify sellers, and this Shopify integration is also coming soon to its new personalized news service, Microsoft Start.
“Using the Shopping tab on Microsoft Bing, and Microsoft Edge, you will now see more diverse products, better prices, and improved discovery of deals. You will also be able to simply check out via the Shopping tab on Microsoft Bing quickly and securely,” the Microsoft Bing team explained.
Microsoft Edge and Bing may not be as popular as Google and its Chrome browser, but this partnership should still benefit Shopify merchants by bringing more eyeballs to their brands and products. Microsoft has created a dedicated Channel app where merchants can connect with shoppers, and their products will automatically show on the Shopping tab on Microsoft Bing and the Microsoft Start Shopping tab for free.
The Redmond giant noted that the new partnership is just the beginning of enhancements it has planned for those looking to save some money this holiday season, and it plans to bring more shopping features to its products soon. “We are excited to create new and meaningful connections between shops and shoppers for this season and beyond,” the Microsoft Bing team said yesterday.
Microsoft Teams is set to receive a new update that will allow users to pin chat messages. The company has started testing the pinned messages feature in the Teams desktop client, and it’s available for all public preview users.
The new capability allows any chat participant to pin or unpin any specific message to the top of the chat window, making it visible to everyone. Once pinned, users can easily navigate to the original message in the chat thread by clicking on the pinned message. The feature is also supported in channel conversations in Teams. However, the app does not display the pinned posts at the top of the channel, and they show up in the information pane instead.
To get started, simply hover over the specific chat message you’d like to pin, click the (. . .) menu, and select the “Pin” option. Once that is done, the pinned message will instantly appear at the top of the conversation. Users will also be able to remove the pinned chat message or replace the currently pinned message with another one at any time.
Overall, the pinned messages experience is a nifty addition to Teams to help users keep track of important announcements within a chat. The feature works in Microsoft Teams chats with external participants and guest users, but only one message can be pinned at a time. This capability is already supported on competing platforms, such as Slack, and it’s great to see Microsoft Teams finally catching up.
Pre-orders for Hyperkin’s 20th Anniversary Xbox controllers went live a few hours ago and all three models sold out almost immediately.
“Thx for supporting the #Duke!” a tweet on the official Hyperkin Twitter account read. “Because pre-orders were met w/ enthusiasm, the 1st batch of Anniversary Dukes are SOLD OUT! A 2nd batch will be released 12/15 on Amazon!”
Hyperkin announced their special 20th Anniversary Xbox controllers last month. Each controller is modelled after the original Xbox console’s massive Duke controller with designs inspired by the Halo franchise’s Cortana character and the newer Xbox Series X and S black and white designs.
Each Hyperkin 20th Anniversary Xbox controller features a built-in screen which plays an Xbox logo startup animation on the white and black controllers and a special Cortana clip edit on the purple Cortana controller.
Hyperkin Xbox 20th Anniversary Cortana Controller
The first batch of controllers are currently slated to launch on November 15th though the second batch of pre-orders being sold on Amazon will come out a month later on December 15th. If you’re in Australia, pre-orders via EB Games are slated to ship on December 21st so it’s likely that release and ship dates will vary by region and product availability.
To help promote the release of Age of Empires IV this week, the Australian and New Zealand branch of Xbox has made an actual breakfast cereal inspired by the video game.
Name, Age of Empires IV Wolol-o’s, this extremely limited edition cereal is packed in a proper cereal box that comes with the 100% edible cereal and a bonus CD, just like back in the 90s and early-2000s.
The bonus CD includes the Age of Empires IV soundtrack and 12 months of Xbox Game Pass for PC access.
Age of Empires IV is due for release on Windows PC later this week on October 28th. The game will also be made available to play for free for subscribers of Xbox Game Pass for PC on the same day.
Companies are still reeling from the sophisticated large scale 2020 attack on SolarWinds who worked with 320,000 customers in over 190 countries, and it appears there is a second attempt under away.
While the actual number of customers who downloaded the “impacted version of SolarWinds’ software” was much smaller at 18,000 and even fewer than 100 who were hacked, this new threat isn’t being taken lightly.
Microsoft has managed to identify a second nascent attack on the horizon that is deploying a similar Trojan-horse technique to gain direct access to cloud services used by global IT supply chains.
Nobelium has been attempting to replicate the approach it has used in past attacks by targeting organizations integral to the global IT supply chain. This time, it is attacking a different part of the supply chain: resellers and other technology service providers that customize, deploy and manage cloud services and other technologies on behalf of their customers. We believe Nobelium ultimately hopes to piggyback on any direct access that resellers may have to their customers’ IT systems and more easily impersonate an organization’s trusted technology partner to gain access to their downstream customers.
Microsoft has been keeping an eye on Nobelium since May of this year and alerting its vulnerable partners and customers which has been more than 140 resellers and service technology providers.
Sadly, Microsoft believes of the 140, at least 14 have been seriously compromised by the new attack. On the plus side, Microsoft also believes it’s caught Nobelium in the preliminary stages despite an increase in activity during the summer.
Similar to SolarWinds, Nobelium is looking to weaponize a long-term strategy of surveillance on potential Russian targets in the future, according to Microsoft.
The attacks we’ve observed in the recent campaign against resellers and service providers have not attempted to exploit any flaw or vulnerability in software but rather used well-known techniques, like password spray and phishing, to steal legitimate credentials and gain privileged access. We have learned enough about these new attacks, which began as early as May this year, that we can now provide actionable information which can be used to defend against this new approach.
Microsoft notes Nobelium isn’t the only nation-state attempting to gain illegal access to resellers IT supply chains, but it is among the most aggressive at the moment.
Microsoft is collaborating with authorities and the security community in US and European government agencies to coordinate and execute counter measures.
Currently, Apple is one company that offers one of the best ranges of peripherals on the market with a lifetime above average and an excellent user experience.
Many of you are likely users of Windows systems but you would like to be able to use the keyboard and mouse from Apple or you were Mac users and you want to use as many components on a computer with Windows.
How can I use Apple keyboard and mouse on Windows 10?
Fortunately, this is possible without a workaround. Here is what you have to do to connect an Apple keyboard and mouse to a Windows 10 system.
These two hardware devices from Apple are wireless and can be connected to your Windows PC via Bluetooth. Apple Magic Mouse also has seamless wired USB support.
How to configure the Magic Mouse on Windows 10
The Magic Mouse from Apple is a bit different product compared to other devices of this kind.
It has no physical buttons and scroll wheel but all actions that you can do with a normal mouse can be made with this mouse and this experience is a little strange at first, but nothing that you cannot get used to.
If you were a Mac user, this should not any create problems.
All you have to do to make this mouse work is to download a free driver and execute a basic installation.
Normally, the whole process should not take more than 10 minutes. Here is how you do this.
Make sure that before you install this driver you have uninstalled any other software of this kind:
You can download the driver without having to sign or fulfill any other condition. On that site you have two types of drivers depending on which mouse version you own. Download the driver associated with your device.
The driver will be received as a .zip and you need to extract the content. You will get an executable through which you will start installation by double-clicking on it. The installation is basic and easy to make because you just have to follow the steps indicated by the installer. You have to accept the license agreement and select the place where you want the driver to be installed.
Before finalizing the configuration, the installer will download some utilities for the model of your mouse, but this will not take too much time because these have less than 4MB.
You can run the installed utilities from the last page of the setup wizard. You can find them also in the taskbar.
After you have opened the Magic Mouse Utilities, connect the mouse to your system and make sure throughout using that software will remain active, otherwise, the device cannot be used. You can set the service to start when you open the computer to save some time.
That is all! This method can be used also for Windows 8, 8.1, 7 depending on your mouse model.
How to configure Apple wireless keyboard on Windows 10
The Apple wireless keyboard is very different from a PC keyboard.
The tactile feel of a solid mechanical device is missing on the first, so, if you are a PC user and prefer a simple and streamlined look, the Apple keyboard might be perfect for you.
This configuration does not require any support software, because it can be done from your computer’s Bluetooth settings.
Before installation, make sure that your keyboard has a fully charged set of AA batteries because you will need to use the keyboard during this process.
In the Windows search bar type Bluetooth and click on the Bluetooth settings.
Your keyboard should appear on the Manage Bluetooth devices list.
Select the Apple Wireless Keyboard and click on the Pair.
You will receive a passcode on your screen that you have to enter on the keyboard.
Hit the Enter button to finish the keyboard configuration.
Note: Often you can receive That didn’t work. Please make sure your device is discoverable or the device no longer listening errors.
There is nothing to worry about because they are due to the fact that you have not pressed enough the power button of the keyboard or a driver issue that can be solved by updating the drivers.
Here is how you do that.
Right-Click on the Windows icon from the bottom-left corner of your screen.
Select Device Manager.
Make sure you do not have any errors at the Bluetooth.
Run a scan on the Software devices and System devices categories and update the drivers if needed.
After have you solved the problem, try one more time to connect the keyboard. If you still cannot connect it, we recommend you present your problem to the Apple Support Service.
Also, there are two different keyboards that you can use for your Windows 10 computer: the older Wireless Keyboard and the newer Apple Magic Keyboard.
The configuration for the latter might cause some minor issues because Windows 10 reads the Magic Keyboard as a separate device.
It will present a code in a window with the text “compare the passcodes”. Click “Yes” and now you should be connected.
If you want to disconnect the keyboard, simply click on the keyboard’s name from Manage Bluetooth devices and then click on the “Remove device” button.
Did you know that laptop manufacturers are actually charging their customers extra for choosing to purchase devices that are compatible with Microsoft’s latest operating system?
These changes are easily spotted with the naked eye and people are starting to call these controversial price spikes a Windows 11 tax.
This whole situation is perplexing, considering that the Redmond tech giant clearly stated that the upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 will be entirely free.
Are manufacturers adding a Windows 11 tax to their prices?
Brands like Asus, HP, Acer, Dell, and Lenovo were among the first ones to come up with these new devices and most of them are already available for purchase if you were looking for an alternative for Surface models.
While you are sitting and reading this, while thinking that companies wouldn’t do this to their customers, let’s analyze this scenario together.
For example, the award-winning Dell XPS 13 laptop costs $881.99 if you buy it with a preinstalled version of Windows 11 home.
At the same time, the exact same laptop only costs $734.99 with Windows 10 Home. Those $147 represent a 20% price difference, and it’s kind of hard to not question what the reasoning behind the decision is.
In the UK, there is a more reasonable price difference of £50 or 5.9% between Windows 11 Home and Windows 10 Home for the same product.
However, this is justified by an upgrade from 256GB to 512GB SSD, which is actually believable, compared to the first scenario.
We’re not saying that there’s a whole conspiracy here, it could be that the manufacturers or the retailers mispriced these products. But what if they didn’t?
It’s clear that whenever a new and desirable product hits the market, there will be a lot of thirsty third parties that will try to profit however they can and we’re hoping that’s not the situation here.
Another theory is that retailers, as well as manufacturers, are actually discounting Windows 10 devices, while the Windows 11-ready ones maintained their price.
The only way we can be sure is to keep monitoring the situation and then draw conclusions. In the meantime, if you are looking for a new laptop or tablet, there are a lot of available options out there.
What is your opinion on these price spikes? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
If you want to quickly change the sound volume on your PC, the easiest way to do that is to use the Volume icon in the Taskbar. Unfortunately, users reported that the Volume icon is missing on Windows 10, so let’s see how to fix this issue.
Volume icon missing on Windows PC? Here’s how to fix it
1. Make sure that Volume icon is enabled
Open the Settings app and go to System.
Now go to the Notifications & actions tab.
A list of available app notifications will appear.
Make sure that the Audio is set to On.
If the Volume icon is missing on Windows 10, you need to make sure that this icon is enabled.
2. Run Local Group Policy Editor
Press Windows Key + R and enter gpedit.msc.
Press OK or click Enter.
In the left pane navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar.
In the right pane locate Remove the volume control icon and double-click it.
Once the properties window opens make sure that Not Configured or Disabled option is selected.
Click Apply and OK to save changes.
Local Group Policy Editor is a powerful tool that allows you to change many system settings, and one of those settings is the appearance of the Volume icon.
3. Change the text size to 125%
Right-click your Desktop and choose Display settings.
When the Customize your display window opens move the slider a bit to the right and set the size of the text to 125%.
After you’ve done that, move the slider back again to the left and change the size to the 100%.
Close the window and the Volume icon should appear.
Unfortunately, you might have to repeat these steps every time the Volume icon disappears from Windows 10. If the Volume icon is missing from Windows 10, you can fix this problem by changing the size of the text to 125%.
4. Update your audio drivers
Press Windows Key + X and choose Device Manager from the list.
When Device Manager opens, expand the Sound, video and game controllers section, right-click your audio device and choose Update driver.
Select Search automatically for updated driver software and let Windows download the best driver for your device.
According to users, some of them managed to fix the problem with the missing volume icons simply by updating their audio driver. Sometimes outdated drivers can cause this and other problems to occur, and in order to fix it, it’s advised to update your drivers.
Alternatively, you can also download the necessary drivers simply by downloading them directly from your sound card manufacturer. If you don’t want to download drivers manually, there are also automated solutions that will update your drivers automatically.
5. Log out and log in to Windows 10
According to users, one of the simplest ways to fix this issue is to log out and log back into Windows 10. To do that just click the Start button, then your user name, and choose to Sign out from the menu. After you sign out, log back into Windows 10, and the Volume icon should appear.
This is a simple workaround, and you’ll have to repeat it every time in order to fix the problem with the missing Volume icon.
6. Restart Explorer
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to start Task Manager.
When Task Manager starts, go to Details tab.
Locate explorer.exe process and right click it.
Choose End Task from the menu.
Press Windows Key + R and enter explorer.
Press Enter or click OK.
Another workaround is to restart Explorer by using the Task Manager. According to users, after restarting the Explorer process, the Volume icon appears.
7. Add values to the registry
Press Windows Key + X to open Power User Menu and select Command Prompt (Admin).
When Command Prompt starts enter the following lines:
Close Command Prompt and check if the issue is resolved.
Adding values to the registry can be potentially dangerous and cause system instability, therefore, it might be a good idea that you create a backup of your registry just in case.
8. Delete a value from your registry
Press Windows Key + R and enter regedit.
Now click OK or press Enter.
When Registry Editor opens, go to the following key:
ComputerHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareClassesLocal SettingsSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionTrayNotify key in the left pane.
Before we proceed, it’s always a good idea to back up your registry, just in case.
To do that, right-click TrayNotify key in the right pane and choose Export from the menu.
Make sure to choose Selected branch in the Export range section.
Now enter the desired file name, choose a save location and click the Save button.
Now you have created a backup of your registry. If any issues occur after making registry changes, feel free to run this file and restore your registry to the original state.
In the right pane, locate IconStreams and PastIconStreams and delete them both. If you have only one of these values, just delete that one value.
Now restart your PC and check if the problem is resolved. If you don’t want to restart your PC, you can restart Windows Explorer or log out of your account and log back in.
If you’re still having problems with the missing volume icon, you might be able to solve the problem by removing a couple of values from your registry.
Your registry holds all sorts of sensitive data, and by changing this data you can change various settings. It’s worth mentioning that your registry is rather sensitive, so we advise extra caution while modifying the registry.
As you can see, this solution is relatively simple, and if you have problems with the missing volume icon, be sure to try it out.
9. Make sure that the necessary services are running
Press Windows Key + R and enter services.msc.
Now press Enter or click OK.
List of services will now appear. Double-click Windows Audio service.
When the Properties window opens, set the Startup type to Automatic.
If the service isn’t running, click the Start button to start it.
Now click Apply and OK to save changes.
Now double-click Windows Audio Endpoint Builder service, and repeat everything from the previous step.
Many components of Windows rely on certain services in order to work properly, and if the Volume icon is missing on your PC, the problem might be because the necessary services aren’t running. However, you can always fix that problem by enabling the required services manually.
After doing that, the necessary services should be started and working properly, and your problem will be resolved. Missing Volume icon in Windows 10 is a small problem that can cause inconvenience, but we hope that you fixed the problem by using one of our solutions.
Missing volume icon can be annoying, but users reported many similar issues. Speaking of volume icon issues, here are some of the problems that users reported:
Volume icon missing Windows 7, 8
This error can appear on both Windows 7 and Windows 8.
Even if you don’t use Windows 10, you should be able to fix this problem by using some of our solutions.
Volume icon missing from taskbar Windows 10
If your volume icon is missing from the Taskbar, it’s possible that the icon is just disabled.
To fix the problem, make sure that your volume icon is enabled from the Settings app.
Volume icon greyed out Windows 10
This problem can occur if there’s an issue with your audio device.
If your volume icon is grayed out, you might want to try updating your drivers and check if that solves the problem.
Windows 10 volume icon not working
If volume control icon isn’t working, that might be due to a temporary glitch.
To fix the problem, simply sign out and sign back in and the issue should be resolved.
Can’t turn volume icon on
According to users, sometimes you might not be able to turn your volume icon on.
If that’s the case, be sure to check if the required services are running properly.
Volume icon has disappeared
This is another common problem that can occur.
If you’re having this issue, just change the text size and that will solve your problem.
Volume icon missing notification area
Another common problem is the missing volume icon from the notification area.
This can be a problem, but you should be able to fix it using one of our solutions.
By following these steps, you should be able to see the Volume icon in the taskbar back in no time.
Let us know which of the steps listed above helped you the most by leaving us a message in the comments section below.
OneDrive is Microsoft’s cloud storage service, but many users reported There was a problem connecting to OneDrive. Subsequently, it becomes impossible to save or even sync your documents and photos.
Well, here is how to restore connectivity and get rid of the frustrating error message once and for all.
How to fix OneDrive 0x8004deed & 0x8004ded0 errors?
Your firewall may be blocking the OneDrive’s Internet connection and causing There was a problem connecting to OneDrive error.
Refer to the manufacturer’s website for detailed instructions on how to switch off your firewall. You may also turn off your current antivirus software but don’t forget to re-enable it as soon as you’re done.
In some instances, you might fix the problem by switching to a different antivirus. These antivitus software offers great protection, and they won’t interfere with your system in any way.
2. Modify your PC’s Internet Properties
Press Windows Key + R to open the Run box.
Type inetcpl.cpl and press the Enter key to open the Internet Properties window.
Select the Advanced tab and scroll down then tick on Use TLS 1.0, Use TLS 1.1, as well as Use TLS 1.2. Click Apply.
Restart OneDrive.
3. Try out a different cloud storage provider
If you aren’t afraid to try out something new, Sync has been around since 2011 and it’s evolved into the best alternative could storage solution for current OneDrive users.
Sync makes it easy to back up your files in real-time and even recover deleted files and previous versions of your important documents.
Moreover, it has the advantage of never accessing or scanning your data. That’s actually an end-to-end encrypted storage platform, so rest assured that your private files remain private.
Select Network & Internet and scroll to the bottom and click Proxy (left side).
Under the Automatic proxy setup section, enable Automatically detect settings option.
If you are using OneDrive with proxy, try turning it off in your browser. This can sometimes help with There was a problem connecting to OneDrive error.
Locate the Microsoft OneDrive app from the list and right-click it then choose Uninstall.
Restart your computer
Visit the OneDrive Download page and select the need to reinstall/download hyperlink to commence the reinstallation process.
Restart and reopen your freshly reinstalled OneDrive app and see if there was a problem connecting to OneDrive hiccup is finally gone.
There was a problem connecting to OneDrive can prevent you from accessing your files, but we hope that you managed to fix it once and for all with our solutions.
Microsoft is finally integrating Twitch live streaming into the Xbox OS and select Xbox Insiders can test it now. This new “Console Live Streaming” feature is now live in the latest Xbox preview builds for Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead Insiders, and it will let Xbox gamers stream games on Twitch without having to install the Twitch app for Xbox consoles.
This new Twitch integration should feel familiar for Xbox gamers who used to stream games on Microsoft’s now-deprecated Mixer service. Twitch Live Streaming will be accessible from the “Capture and Share” tab in the Xbox Guiden where a new “Live Streaming” option will appear. To get started, users will first need to link their Twitch account to their Microsoft account, then a “Go Live now” button will appear to start streaming games on Twitch.
Following the sunsetting of Mixer last year, Xbox head Phil Spencer said Microsoft was working on integrating other live streaming services on Xbox consoles. “We absolutely want to give gamers choice of where to stream for Xbox,” the exec said back in June 2020, and we’re finally seeing the result of that with this new Twitch integration.
As you may know, Sony had a forward-thinking approach on this front right from the beginning of the previous console generation, with the PlayStation 4 making it seamless for gamers to start streaming games on Twitch on YouTube by pressing the Share button on the PS4 controller. It’s great to see Microsoft finally catching up, as the current Twitch app for Xbox that remains mandatory for streaming games on Twitch can be pretty clunky.
In addition to this new Console Live Streaming feature, today’s update for Xbox Insiders also brings more Xbox Cloud Gaming improvements. Xbox One owners can now Xbox Series X|S games like The Medium on their console, and this is thanks to Microsoft upgrading its xCloud server blades with custom Xbox Series X hardware earlier this year. If Xbox Cloud Gaming on Xbox consoles should become generally available later this year, the new Twitch live streaming features is “totally early days” according to the Xbox team.
Icon overlays are distinctive signs put over the normal folder icons and used to add complementary information about the respective folders.
Examples of icon overlays include the lock icon which indicates that a file needs special access permissions, the small arrow which is used to indicate that the icon is actually a shortcut, and so on.
Unfortunately, sometimes the icon overlays are unavailable. OneDrive is one of the apps frequently affected by this issue, which can be quite annoying because users don’t have any information about the status of the files they’re syncing.
Moreover, Windows 10 limits the number of icon overlays that can be loaded and displayed per session to 15.
OneDrive icon overlay missing: How can I to restore it?
Missing overlay icons can be an inconvenience, but and speaking of missing icons, these are some of the common problems that users reported:
OneDrive sync overlays missing – If sync overlays are missing for OneDrive, the issue might be missing updates. Microsoft is aware of this issue, and in order to permanently fix it, it’s advised to update your Windows to the latest version.
Sync icon overlays are missing from OneDrive personal – Many users reported that sync icon overlays are missing from the Personal version of OneDrive. This can be because you reached the maximum number of overlay icons. Simply remove other applications that use overlay icons, and the problem should be resolved.
OneDrive icon overlays not showing – According to users, it seems that OneDrive icon overlays are missing from their PC. This can be a problem, but you should be able to fix it by modifying your registry.
1. Uninstall unused applications
Since Windows supports a finite number of icon overlays, other applications that heavily use icon overlays on files and folders (for example Dropbox) take priority in displaying theirs and suppress those for OneDrive.
After you uninstall the applications, restart your computer for the OneDrive icon overlays to appear.
There are several methods that you can use to remove an application, but the most effective one is to use dedicated uninstaller software. Sometimes applications can leave leftover files and registry entries even if you remove them, and these files can still interfere with your system.
Removing leftover files and registry entries manually is a tedious task even for advanced users, so it’s usually better to use a software that will do that automatically for you.
Transfer all the temporary files from the temp and the %temp% folders to the recycle bin folder. You can also delete them if you want.
After removing temporary files, it’s recommended that you perform an SFC scan and check your system for file corruption. This is quite simple and you can do it by following these steps:
Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu. Now select Command Prompt (Admin) from the list. If Command Prompt isn’t available, you can use PowerShell (Admin) instead.
Once the Command Prompt starts, run the sfc /scannow command. This will start an SFC scan on your PC. Keep in mind that the SFC scan can take up to 15 minutes, so don’t interfere with it.
In addition to SFC scan, you might want to run DISM scan as well. Sometimes SFC scan can’t run or fix your problem, and if that happens, it’s advised to run a DISM scan instead. To do that, follow these steps:
Start Command Prompt as administrator.
Now enter DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth in Command Prompt and press Enter to run it.
DISM scan will now start. We have to warn you that this process can take about 20 minutes or more, so it’s crucial not to interrupt it.
Once the scan is finished, check if the problem still persists. If you couldn’t run an SFC scan before, you might want to repeat it again and check if that solves the problem.
3. Edit your registry
Type regedit in the search box and press Enter.
Back up the Windows Registry -> right-click on Computer > Export.
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerShellIconOverlayIdentifiers
Delete the folders with no name, as well as the spaces at the beginning of the names of the folders that are higher than the ones relative to OneDrive. You can insert a space in front of the OneDrive file names to send those files to the top of the list.
Restart your computer.
4. Use ShellExView
If the OneDrive icon overlay is missing, the problem might be the limited number of icon overlays. Windows has a certain limit of icon overlays that it can use, and if your OneDrive icon overlays are missing, it’s possible that you reached the maximum number of icon overlays.
If that happens, other applications will get a priority over OneDrive which will cause your OneDrive icon overlays to stop working.
This doesn’t mean that OneDrive isn’t working, but you won’t get a visual notification in terms of icon overlays which can be a problem for some users.
However, there’s a way to see the applications that use icon overlays. To do that, you’ll need a third-party application called ShellExView. This is a freeware and portable application, so you can use it on your PC without any limitations.
Once you download the application, follow these steps:
Start ShellExView.
When ShellExView opens, go to, click the sort the entries by Type and scroll down until you locate Icon Overlay Handlers.
Now you’ll see all Icon Overlay Handlers on your PC. Simply select the Icon Overlay Handler that you want to disable and click the red circle in the toolbar. Keep a close eye on the description section so you can identify which application is using the handler.
After disabling unused handlers, the problem should be resolved. If needed, you can always enable handlers by going back to the ShellExView application. This is an advanced solution, so use extra caution while performing it.
5. Use Microsoft’s troubleshooter
If OneDrive icon overlays are missing on your PC, you might be able to fix the issue by using Microsoft’s troubleshooter.
Microsoft has provided an automated workaround that can fix the problem for you in just a couple of clicks. To use this tool, you need to do the following:
Once the troubleshooter is downloaded, run it and follow the instructions on the screen to complete it.
This is a simple solution, and it should work for you, so feel free to try it out.
6. Make sure that you have the latest updates
If you’re having problems with icon overlays, you might be able to fix the problem simply by installing the latest updates. Microsoft is aware of this issue, and it’s rather likely that the problem is fixed in one of the recent updates.
By default, Windows 10 will automatically download and install the missing updates, but sometimes you might miss an update or two due to certain bugs. However, you can always check for updates by doing the following:
Windows will now check for available updates. If any updates are available, they will be downloaded automatically in the background. Once the updates are downloaded, Windows will install them as soon as you restart your PC.
After you install the missing updates, the issue with icon overlays should be permanently resolved.
Sometimes third-party applications might be interfering with Windows and that can cause OneDrive icon overlays to become missing. However, you might be able to fix this problem by performing a Clean boot.
To do that, just follow these steps:
Press Windows Key + R and enter msconfig. Press Enter or click OK.
The System Configuration window will now appear. Go to the Services tab and check Hide all Microsoft services. Now click Disable all button.
Now go to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.
Task Manager will now appear and you’ll see the list of startup applications. Right-click the first entry on the list and choose Disable from the menu. Repeat this step for all entries on the list.
Once you disable all startup applications, close Task Manager, and go back to System Configuration window. Click Apply and OK to save changes and restart your PC.
Upon restart, check if the problem still persists. If not, you need to enable applications and services one by one until you find the problematic application.
Once you find the problematic application, remove it, and check if that solves the problem.
There you go, these solutions should help you fix the missing OneDrive status icons issue.
Do you know of any other workarounds? Feel free to share your experience with us by reaching for the comments section below.
The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable error message can cause a lot of problems on your PC can prevent you from accessing certain files. However, there’s a way to fix this problem, and in this article, we’re going to show you what causes this error and how you can fix it on your PC.
Quite a few people have lost important data from their PCs due to hard drive errors. A common error on the Windows OS is the one that many will identify with The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable popup message.
The error prevents you from accessing, copying, renaming, or doing other things you may want to do with the files stored on a hard drive partition on your PC. You can encounter this error with other file storage devices like external hard drives, USB thumb drives, removable hard disks, and flash memory cards.
What causes this error? How do you recover your data? And, most importantly, how do you fix the error and prevent it from happening again?
What causes the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable error?
This error is usually a result of some form of file corruption or damage to the external data storage devices on which the affected files are stored. Because of this you can’t access the files or do what you want with them. This is bad news if you have important data stored on the affected files.
But how do hard drives files get corrupted in the first place?
Corrupted MFT (Master File Table)
In most cases, this is a consequence of how you use and care for your hard drives. For one, pulling the external hard drive cable from the PC’s USB port before the computer is done copying a file, or while it executes some other command related to the external hard drive is known to corrupt your files.
Usually, it’s the MFT that’s corrupted. The MFT is part of the NFTS file system that handles file storage. It is where all file access permissions are granted and where information about file sizes and names, as well as where the creation and last edit times are recorded. Once this MFT is corrupted access to your files is blocked.
Make sure you have released the external storage devices from all the programs Windows may be running on them before you pull them from the PC. The safest way to eject external hard drives is by clicking on the drive icon on the Windows Explorer window.
Physical damage to the external hard drive
Sometimes the cause of hard drive failure and the subsequent ‘the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable’ error is physical damage to the external hard drive itself.
As you would any digital and mechanical devices that store important information, you should protect your external storage devices from moisture, dust, heat, and other forms of damage.
In the case of USB drives and removable disks, physical damage could take the form of bad sectors, which are sections of the drive that are damaged to the extent they are no longer readable or writable. If file information was located on these now inaccessible bad sectors, retrieving the data becomes difficult, hence the error message.
Virus infection
This is the scariest of all the possible causes of the “The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable” error. Virus infection may, in fact, lead to consequences far more serious than the loss of your data. Today, there are many sources of virus infection that every computer user needs to be extra vigilant.
You could open your computer to virus infection through the websites you browse, files you download from the internet and portable storage drives that you connect to your PC. These viruses will often corrupt your file partitions, delete your data, and make unauthorized changes to your PC’s registry settings. All these could cause “the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable” error.
If you suspect the file corruption could be due to virus infection, get good anti-virus software and scan your PC without delay. In some cases, the anti-virus PC clean-up could be all it takes to recover your inaccessible files.
Still, in some cases, only select partitions of an external hard drive could be generating the error message. The other partitions could be working just fine. This reduces the likelihood the error could be a result of virus infection or any physical damage to the hard drive.
How can I fix the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable?
1. Format the flash drive
This is possibly the easiest solution to ‘the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable’ error. But it isn’t the most ideal. Formatting the hard drive simply means you are erasing all the files stored on the hard drives.
By formatting the hard drive, you are also getting rid of whatever had corrupted your files in the first place. You can now start from a clean slate. But, clearly, this is not always a practical solution as the purpose of a hard drive is to store data that is useful to you. The last thing you may want is to get it all deleted.
To format the disk, follow these steps;
Locate the affected disk partition. You can easily single out which drive is generating the error by checking the error message itself. A typical error message will read, H: is not accessible, followed by ‘the file or directory is not corrupted and unreadable’. In this case, drive partition H is the one you will need to format.
Right-click the affected drive and choose the Format option on the drop-down menu.
On the new window that will pop up, click the Start button. This will start the formatting process.
Formatting might be the quickest solution, but it will also remove all files from your drive, so you might want to think twice about using it. If you choose to format your drive, be sure to back up important files beforehand.
2. Use the Chkdsk Windows utility to repair file system errors
For Windows 10 users, type in the WinKey+X keyboard shortcut.
If you use Windows XP, and Vista, click the Windows Start button
Type cmd into the search box and hit enter. This also applies to windows 8 and 8.1
A User Account Control pop-up will ask for permission to make changes to your PC. Click Yes.
Type in chkdsk H: /f and hit enter. H represents the affected drive partition.
The chkdsk disk repair process may take some time. So, you will need to be patient.
Do this with every hard drive partition generating ‘The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable’ error message.
Using the Chkdsk command-line option to clean your hard drive disk usually solves the problem and helps you recover your data. Issues the Chkdsk utility can help resolve include directory errors, lost clusters, and cross-linked files.
3. Use a third-party software
The prospect of losing data will drive most people into a panic. But before you do that, try using the Stellar Data Recovery Software.
Stellar Data Recovery is a very powerful tool, and it can help you recover any type of lost document: email, photos, or videos.
You can basically recover your lost data regardless of the storage type: hard drive, SSD, memory card, USB drive, and even RAW storage drive.
If you want to know more about this tool, just check out our detailed Stellar Data Recovery review. You’ll see whether it is worth the money or not.
Moreover, let’s have a look at some of the included key features:
There are exceptional cases where the local drive C is the one generating the error message. Ordinarily, if Drive C, which is the system drive, gets corrupted, your PC should stop working. It shouldn’t boot using the normal Windows startup.
But if a file on drive C gives ‘The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable’ error and the PC does not stop working, the Chkdsk utility rarely resolves the issue. The one option you have is to reinstall your Windows OS. This should, of course, be the last resort after all other options have been explored.
The prospect of losing access to your precious data is terrifying. But in most cases, there is no need to panic as the fix is usually an easy one. The few we have discussed here should get you working with your machine in perfect harmony again in no time.
We already know that the Redmond tech giant has started testing the Android subsystem for Windows 11, and a limited number of insiders can now download it from the Amazon AppStore.
The availability of Android apps on Windows 11 would strongly depend on the items published in the Amazon AppStore, but you can still sideload APKs.
However, it’s been proven that you can also run the Google Play Store on Microsoft’s latest operating system.
Is it possible to run the Google Play Store on Windows 11?
A developer known as ADeltaX unlocked Google Play Store support by making changes to Windows Subsystem for Android.
This Play Store hack, which is not beginner-friendly, enables support for both Google Play services and the Google Play Store with sign-in support.
This method could actually pave the way for installing any Android app on Windows 11 and Google Play services, and based apps will also work.
The script mentioned above is hosted on Github, however, it’s currently not beginner-friendly and it’s better to stay away from the hack unless you know exactly what you are doing.
How do I run the Google Play Store on Windows 11?
Before you get started, please make sure you read the percent paragraph once more. To get started, you first need to download Windows Subsystem for Android.
After that, you need to install Windows Subsystem for Linux and download Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store.
Now run the following commands in the Ubuntu terminal:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt install unzip lzip
The next step involves heading over to OpenGApps and creating a package that features the following configuration settings:
Platform: x86_64.
OS: Android: 11.
Variant: Pico on OpenGApps
Now download 7Zip and extract the .msixbundle of Windows Subsystem for Android and locate the msixbundle compatible with your architecture/device language.
Proceed with extracting the second msixbundle to another folder and delete the appxblockmap, appxsignature, content_types, and appxmetadata files.
Moving on to the Ubuntu terminal, you have to run these commands:
git clone https://github.com/ADeltaX/WSAGAScript
cd WSAGAScript/\#IMAGES
mv /mnt/path-to-extracted-msix/*.img .
cd ../\#GAPPS
cp /mnt/path-to-downloaded-gapps/*.zip .
The command we’ve listed above will automatically download the necessary files to run the WSAGA script.
With this command, WSL would follow the same path as Windows after /mnt/, but make sure the drive letter is correct.
Now you need to run executable permission for the scripts.
Proceed to change the root directory in VARIABLES.sh using the command pwd and note down the output. Run the following command where VARIABLES would be the output of the previous command:
nano VARIABLES.sh
We’re almost done, so bear with us for just a few more seconds. Now, all you have to do is run these commands:
You will want to copy the modified WSA image, and for that, you will need to run another command, which is:
cd \#IMAGES
cp *.img /mnt/path-to-extracted-msix/
Provided you followed the above steps correctly, you should be able to successfully register the modified image.
In order to do register, enable developer mode in WSA and run Add-AppxPackage -Register path-to-extracted-msix\AppxManifest.xml
Now, Windows Subsystem for Android will install the required apps and files for Play Store. As we said at the beginning of this article, this is no easy task.
To sign in with your Google account, copy the kernel file from GitHub and replace the kernel file inside the tools folder of the extracted mix.
NOTE
WSA should not be running in the background at this point.
Once all the above is done, enter the ADB shell and run the following command:
su
setenforce 0
Although the instructions are available, they’re not for beginners, and it’s better to wait for a third-party tool to automate the entire process.
Windows 10 has been released for some time, and although it’s the latest version of Windows, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its flaws.
Speaking of flaws and Windows 10, some users have reported getting Element Not Found error on Windows 10.
Element Not Found is a relatively common error on Windows, and in this article, we’re going to cover the following issues:
Element Not Found Windows 10 pictures – This error message usually occurs when you try to view pictures on your Windows 10 PC. The issue is most likely caused by your default photo viewer app, and to fix the problem, you just need to replace the default photo viewer application.
Element Not Found Microsoft Edge – This error can appear in Microsoft Edge as well, and it’s most likely caused by file corruption. However, you should be able to fix it using one of our solutions.
Element Not Found Explorer.exe – Sometimes this error message can appear while using File Explorer. However, you can fix the problem simply by restarting the explorer.exe process.
Element Not Found Windows 10 update – Many users reported this problem after a Windows update. However, you can fix the issue simply by finding and uninstalling the problematic update.
Element Not Found jpg – Element Not Found error is relatively common with jpg images, but it can also appear with other files. If you have this problem on your PC, be sure to try some of our solutions.
This error can affect the functionality of your Windows 10, and it can prevent you from accessing Settings, Universal apps, it can even occur when you’re trying to open .jpeg images.
As you can see, this can be a big problem for Windows 10 users, but fortunately for you, we have a few solutions that might be helpful.
How can I fix Element Not Found error in Windows 10?
1. Uninstall recent updates
Open the Settings app.
Now navigate to the Update & Security section.
Click on View installed update history.
Now click on Uninstall updates.
List of installed updates will appear. Now you need to remove recently installed updates and check if that solves your issue. Several users reported that they removed all updates and that resolved the issue for them.
According to users, sometimes recent Windows updates can cause Element Not Found error to appear. In order to fix the issue, you need to find and remove the problematic updates.
This is rather simple and you can do it by following the above steps.
If uninstalling the problematic update fixes the problem, you need to prevent that update from installing in the future.
Sometimes your antivirus can interfere with your system casing Element Not Found error to appear. To check if your antivirus is the problem, disable it and try running the application again.
For the Norton users, we’ve got a dedicated guide on how to completely remove it from your PC. There’s a similar guide for McAffe users, as well.
There are many great antivirus applications on the market, but be sure you try one that provides the best protection for all your devices against the latest malware.
3. Uninstall Lenovo software from your computer
If you’re using a Lenovo laptop, you should know that certain Lenovo software can cause this issue, so the best solution is to remove this software from your laptop.
The software piece that is causing the Element not found error is most likely Lenovo CAPSOD and OneKey Theater. Just remove this software from your laptop and this issue should be resolved.
Also, keep in mind that you need to remove all files associated with the problematic software.
Don’t refuse the advantage of a free download and use an efficient tool to remove Lenovo CAPSOD and OneKey Theater. The problem should be completely solved in no time.
4. Restart explorer.exe
When Windows 10 starts press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Locate explorer.exe (Windows Explorer) in the list of processes. Right-click it and choose End task.
Next, go to File > Run new task.
The Run window will open. Now just type explorer.exe into it and press Enter to run it.
This is a simple workaround, but it actually might work for you. Use the above procedure in order to restart the explorer.exe process.
Windows Explorer should now start, and the problem will be resolved. Keep in mind that this is just a workaround, so you might have to repeat it if the issue reappears.
When the Settings app opens, navigate to the Apps section.
In the left pane, click on Default apps. In the right pane, locate Photo viewer and click it.
Select an application that you want to use as a default Photo viewer. Many users recommend using Windows Picture Viewer, but you can also use any other application instead.
Many users reported that Element Not Found error appeared on their PC while trying to view photos.
According to users, you might be able to fix this issue simply by going to the Settings app and choosing a different image viewer.
After changing your default photo viewer, the issue should be completely resolved. This error message occurs due to problems with the Photos app.
To fix the problem, you just need to change your default photo viewer.
If you don’t have a third-party photo viewer, we covered some of the best photo viewers for Windows 10, so be sure to check that article for some great software.
6. Perform an SFC scan
Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu. Now choose Command Prompt (Admin) from the list.
When Command Prompt opens, enter sfc /scannow and press Enter.
Element Not Found error message can appear due to file corruption. However, you can easily fix corrupted files by using an SFC scan. To run an SFC scan, do as described above.
SFC scan will now start. Keep in mind that this scan can take about 10-15 minutes, so don’t interrupt it. Once the scan is finished, check if the problem still appears.
If the issue still persists, or if you were unable to run an SFC scan, you might want to try running a DISM scan instead. To do that, follow these steps:
Start Command Prompt as administrator.
Enter DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
DISM scan will now start. This process can take about 20 minutes or more, so don’t interrupt it.
Once the scan is finished, check if the error still persists. If you were unable to run an SFC scan before, try running it now. After both SFC and DISM scans are completed, check if the issue still persists.
Does it seem that everything is lost when DISM fails on Windows? Check out this quick guide and get rid of the worries.
7. Disable your integrated graphics
Many PCs come with both dedicated and integrated graphics cards, however, sometimes issues can occur if both graphics cards are enabled.
Many users reported that Element Not Found error was caused by their graphics card, and in order to fix the issue, you need to disable integrated graphics.
There are several ways to do that, and you can do it from Nvidia Control Panel or Catalyst Control Center.
If you can’t open the Nvidia Control Panel on Windows 10, we’ve covered this pesky problem in this dedicated guide. Also, we’ve got a similar article about Catalyst Control Center.
If that doesn’t work, or if you can’t find the way to disable integrated graphics from these applications, you might want to try disabling it from BIOS.
To see how to access BIOS and how to disable your integrated graphics card, we strongly recommend that you check your motherboard manual for detailed instructions.
Once you disable your integrated graphics, the problem should be completely resolved.
Accessing BIOS seems too big of a task? Let us make things easier for you with the help of this amazing guide.
8. Reset your PC
Press Start and click the Power Options button.
Then hold the Shift key and press the Restart button.
Now you will boot to advanced startup options screen. Make sure that your Windows 10 installation disc or USB flash drive is connected.
Click on Troubleshoot. After that choose Reset this PC.
Now you have the option to keep your files or not. Choose Keep my files.
Next, you’ll be asked what version of Windows you wish to reset. There should be just one option available, so click it.
Next, you just need to follow the instructions and wait until the setup process is completed.
To do this, you’ll need Windows 10 installation disc or USB flash drive with Windows 10 setup files on it.
This process will reinstall Windows 10, but it will allow you to keep your personal files, although it will delete your installed applications.
Use this solution as a last resort if nothing else seems to work. To do so, you need to do as described above.
That would be all. We hope at least one of these solutions helped you to solve the problem with this error.
If you have any questions, comments, or maybe some other solution for this problem, reach to the comments section below.
We’re sure our readers would like to know even more about this issue.
Keeping your personal files protected all the time is extremely important.
Setting up passwords for certain files, folders, or zip packages is recommended, especially if there are other persons who have access to your Windows 10 device.
Also, if you share files between different computers, or use a network that’s not properly secured, the best is to set individual passwords for your most important files.
That’s why we want to show you the best security solutions that can be used to password protect zip files in Windows 10.
For regular files and folders, you can use built-in Windows 10 features and set individual encrypted passwords.
Unfortunately, when discussing ZIP files, it’s more complicated to find the right security alternatives – no, you cannot set passwords for protecting zip files in Windows 10 by default.
Thus, third-party solutions must be applied instead. And since there are different tools available on the web, it’s indicated to choose wisely.
How to add a password to a zip file on Windows 10?
Follow on-screen prompts and install this program – just click on the executable WinRAR file.
Next, choose the file which you want to compress and secure.
Right-click on this file and, from the list that will be displayed, choose Add to archive….
From the window that will be displayed, under the General tab, enter a name for the future zip file, choose the Archive format (click on ZIP), and, before selecting OK for confirming your changes, click on Set password.
When prompted, enter your passwords and re-enter it for confirmation.
Apply the changes and that’s it.
WinRAR is maybe the most popular tool used in the Windows 10 system. Of course, WinRAR can help you easily compress files and folders into one compressed file.
Additionally, WinRAR can also be used for setting up a password for the compressed file. Thus, in our situation, we can use this free-distributed app for securing our zip files.
Now, if you want to set a password for an already compressed file, follow these steps:
Open WinRAR and click on Tools.
Then, select Convert archives from the Tools options.
From Convert archives, under Archive types, keep the zip option checked.
Choose the location where you want to place the protected zip, and then click on the Compression… button.
The Set default compression options window will be displayed.
Under the General tab, click on Set password… and enter your password.
Complete the validation process and save your work.
Install 7-Zip on your device – run the executable file and then follow on-screen prompts.
Choose the file you want to compress, and right-click on it.
Pick Add to archive.
Under the Add to Archive window, you need to: enter a name for the file, set an archive format, and enter an encryption solution.
So, set the password for protecting the future zip file.
When done, click on OK, and that’s it.
Unlike WinRAR, through 7-Zip, you won’t be able to set a password for an existing compressed zip file. This software will let you set up one password only during the zip process.
So, for already compressed packages, you will have to unzip first and re-zip afterward. Anyway, 7-Zip is also free and offers an intuitive interface, just as we noticed with the WinRAR client.
As you will notice, both platforms are quite similar so just choose the one that you prefer the most, or try them both and decide afterward which solution is best for what you wish to accomplish.
These are the easiest ways in which you can protect a zip file by setting up a dedicated password. Keep in mind that Windows 10 doesn’t offer a built-in solution for completing this encryption.
However, by using the tools listed above, you can easily protect any zip file you want.
Both WinRAR and 7-Zip are open-source platforms, so you can download and use them for free.
It’s totally possible that some older PC owners may have noticed somewhat of a change in their device’s performance recently.
And you will be surprised to find out that the cause is not the recent Windows 11 upgrade. A recent Google Chrome update, however, wreaks havoc on the above-mentioned machines.
Intel X25-M SSD was tested while using the Chrome browser. During testing, it was discovered that Chrome was pushing the SSD at 100 percent utilization.
Chrome will significantly slow down your system after udpdate
A lot of users started noticing that their systems were beginning to get a bit sluggish, for no apparent reason.
This massive hit on the CPU and memory seemed trivial at first, and most thought that their SSDs broke, or the systems were obsolete and ready to be changed with new ones.
However, the performance issues were at their lowest during web browsing, so this raised some eyebrows, as well as some important questions.
Naturally, people started installing and testing to see if their machines run the same with Firefox and Edge, which is based on Chromium.
Much to everyone’s surprise, all these issues disappeared when Chrome wasn’t used anymore and the other browsers ran like a charm.
Meanwhile, when Chrome was active, even just navigating around Windows was unbearably slow, compared to the other browsers, which had minimal impact on the SSD.
Microsoft’s Edge browser only spiked the SSD for anywhere between 2 percent (see image below) to around 10 percent. Firefox came in around the same usage as Edge.
Anyway, Chrome users are no strangers to the browser using such a large amount of their available memory.
The internet is full of people constantly complaining about having experienced the pain of how Chrome hits their disk drives hard most of the time.
However, the popular browser had not been such a major issue before its latest update on October 19th, which brought Chrome to version 95.0.4638.54.
If you are also experiencing the same issue while using Chrome with an older SSD, it is in your best interest to check if using another browser fixes your problem.
Also, turning off Chrome’s preload features could help the situation. While these features make loading webpages quicker, they also add to the CPU usage.
Before you leave, why not check our trim SSD guide, to learn how this feature works and how it can improve your performance?
Have you also been experiencing such problems while browsing with Google’s Chrome? Let us know in the comments section below.
I picked up the first Surface Duo in the Woot fire sale in July. Surely, I was not going to fork over $1,400 for the first Surface Duo, but $410 is a good deal for that device.
Since that time, I have been using the first Surface Duo as a secondary device. I tried to use it as my primary device, but there were too many things missing for me.
I love the form factor and found that using dual screens is the best when it comes to doing two things at once. However, the downsides were too hard to ignore, especially the lack of a decent point-and-shoot external camera.
The hardware is better than ever
Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 hinges
Based on our hands-on with the first Surface Duo, some things have changed for the better. The first thing you notice is the hinge on the Surface Duo 2. The hinge is slightly bigger this time around, made of better materials, and it has new Glance Bar on one of the curved displays where you can see the time of day, the battery level, as well as notifications for phone calls and text messages without opening the Surface Duo 2.
Holding the first Surface Duo, you feel as though with a little force you can snap it in half. The Surface Duo 2 is heavier and feels more premium, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Fold 3. And like the Fold 3, I am sure it would easily smash to pieces if I drop it.
If you loved the Surface Duo 1, you are going to love the improvements on the Surface Duo 2. The 90Hz display, Glance Bar, NFC, and the triple camera setup are all great upgrades. The screen bezels are a little smaller, offering a tad more screen real estate for your viewing pleasure, and the fingerprint sensor built in the power button is also very convenient.
In my short time with the Surface Duo 2, I am impressed with the build quality, design, and upgrades. If the hardware feels worth the money, the software experience is a different story, though.
The software still feels unfinished
While the Surface Duo 2 is well-made and feels premium, the software is still quite buggy at launch. As I was taking pictures for this hands-on, the Duo 2 decided it did not want to cooperate. Moreover, trying to get the Glance bar to work when I press the power button is inconsistent, sometimes it won’t turn on, or there can be a two-second delay.
As an owner of the first Surface Duo, the bugs that were present in the first are no longer present in the Duo 2. However, accidental touches and the camera app getting unknown errors when I try to open up the app are persistent and annoying. The software experience is the major downside to this device, even after I installed the latest stability update. After shelling out close to $1,700 for the Duo 2 (device + Microsoft Complete), I am extremely frustrated by the Duo 2’s software experience.
You only get one chance to make a good first impression, and the original Surface Duo didn’t really do that. There’s much more to like about the Surface Duo 2’s hardware, but I’m afraid that Microsoft still has to really optimize Android for dual-screen devices. The Surface Duo 2 is just Microsoft’s second Android device, and it could be years before the company could rival Samsung and other Android OEMs on the software front.
What do you think about the Surface Duo 2? Let us know in the comments! If you have any specific questions, you can hit me up on Twitter.
Rise of Humanity is a post-apocalyptic turn-based deck builder set in a world that somewhat resembles the setting of Terminator: humanity is on the run for the robots that have taken over the world and it’s time for them to strike back.
The game was released in Early Access on Steam so this is not a scored review yet, but the 6 story missions present in the current build already offer a good insight into what’s to come.
Next to the single-player campaign, the game also focuses on competitive ranked daily challenges, where community members can face off against each other while trying to get the highest score on the leaderboard.
Come with me if you want to live – Story
Rise of Humanity is set in the aftermath of a robot apocalypse and when a group of humans gets together, they realize they may have a shot at setting things right.
Through character dialogues that happen in the game’s hub, which is interestingly an amusement park, and some during the story missions, you learn more about their motivations and what their goals are.
The Roboworld Hideout
The writing itself is fine but could use some improvement, as their emotions don’t always come across the way that I believe it was intended. There is no spoken dialogue and only static avatars, so most of that emotion needs to happen through text, something that is very possible, as recently shown by Midnight Protocol, but that will still need some work here.
That being said, simply taking place in this setting is already a step up for me and I’m very curious what kind of world-building and character developments we’ll see in the 14 added story missions that will be in the full game.
Hasta la vista, baby! – Gameplay
Rise of Humanity combines two well-known game mechanics: On one end it has the tile-based movement we’ve seen in a lot of tactics games, letting you move X amount of tiles and then executing an attack. Careful placement of your characters is key to survival, especially on harder difficulties.
Hex-based movement
To actually deal out damage, you’ll need to use cards. Whereas most other games in the genre would use one action per turn or use MP/stamina for bigger moves, each action you can choose is represented by a card in a characters’ deck. Each card does use a set amount of energy though, but most of the starting ones cost one energy and you get 3 to spend each turn.
There are offensive moves like a melee swing with a crowbar, but you also have a ton of ranged attacks coming from guns, grenades, and everyone’s personal favorite (I guarantee it): a pink exploding bunny. It packs a real punch!
Clever players will also learn to rely on cards that activate during their opponent’s turn like blocking, evading, or drawing extra cards when you get damaged.
Block 4 incoming damage next turn
You only get to draw a single card every turn, so it’s very important that each card in your deck is useful and optimized, but luckily you can customize your deck and characters in the game’s hub.
I need your clothes, your booths and your motorcycle – Upgrades
During the game, you’ll discover chests that contain new cards and earn money that can be used to upgrade your cards. As soon as you have two of the same card, you can increase its level which will have an impact on the damage output or the range, for example.
What I’ve not seen before, is a required sum to eliminate a card from your deck, but it does make sense: you really want to make sure that every single card you draw has a practical use.
Each character has their own deck and specific job-related cards. Your healer will have the option to restore health, the Engineer can deploy turrets or mobile explosives and how well you do in combat will largely depend on the choices you make.
Battle Goals – a nice touch!
One interesting aspect is that at the start of each level you get to pick character-specific battle goals. This adds a bit of additional challenge, like moving to certain tiles or using your restorative health spray three times. If you reach the goal, you get tokens that can be used to upgrade your character.
In the hub, you can spend those tokens on new passive skills that will have a huge impact on the gameplay. If your Engineer is already good at placing deployable, you can imagine that drawing a card each time you do vastly increases your options during your next turn.
Upgrade your character
It’s wise to save those tokens for the abilities that really matter and it also helps that picking those battle goals adds a bit of longevity to the campaign missions, requiring you to act in a certain way.
Also of note: you don’t automatically restore health after combat and it costs money to heal up. Making the Medic my preferred character in the game as she gets around that limitation.
I’ll be back! – Daily challenges
The Early Access build only has 6 story missions, with 14 more being added in the full release. It only took me around 2.5 hours to beat those but there are a bunch of replayable levels and even daily challenges that will give the game some extra value.
The team behind Rise of Humanity is aiming to make this a community-based game where players try to get higher on the leaderboards, even offering physical prizes like a free T-shirt as incentives. I don’t know about you, but for me, this works really well as motivation, especially because it features the pink exploding bunny.
You can just check the game every day to stay tuned on the challenges, but I recommend hopping into their Discord server so you can discuss tactics with other players.
Shake hands?
I’m looking for Sarah Connor – Possible improvements
The game is fun and looks great, but I can still see a lot of room for improvement. Luckily this is an Early Access version and they are still accepting feedback, so be sure to send your opinions their way via the Discord link I mentioned earlier.
As for my personal feedback, I’d love to play more story missions and see the world and characters fleshed out more with improved writing so we actually care for them.
The game also looks great, but because of the forced perspective during combat, we don’t get to see the graphics up-close and I’d love to see more combat animations like the one where the hunter runs up to the enemies and slashes at them: this brings the player closer into the action.
I’m not sure if there will be human opponents in the final game or other builds of robots, but I only saw 3-4 different enemy types in the Early Acces build and a bit of added variety could go a long way.
Crusher. Crusher. Crusher.
Final thoughts on Rise of Humanity
Pros
Great turn-based combat
Lots of ways to improve your characters and deck
Fantastic soundtrack and superb voice acting
Interesting post-robot-apocalypse setting
Cons
Not a lot of story content yet and the writing can be improved
Looks great but doesn't showcase this enough
Could use a few speed-up options
Rise of Humanity does a lot of things right: the turn-based tactical aspect of the game gives you plenty of time to plan out your next moves whereas you can gradually make your crew stronger through character upgrades or better deckbuilding.
It’s also got an interesting setting but doesn’t give away that much yet so people invested in the story may be left hungry at this point in time. Graphically it looks great, but due to the nature of the top-down perspective, you hardly ever see the visuals up close, something I hope they remedy by adding more combat animations and cutscenes.
Rise of Humanity is currently only available on PC, it costs $19.99 in Early Access on Steam, and buying it at this price will give you access to the full game at launch, which will be sometime next year. There is a launch discount until 28 October that you can still use if you’re quick!
*Disclaimer: Reviewed on Windows 10. Steam review copy provided by the developer.
Welcome back to our Windows news recap, where we go over the top stories of the past week in the world of Microsoft’s flagship operating system.
Microsoft promises a “PC-first experience” for Halo Infinite
A PC-first experience has been promised for Halo Infinite, and whilst testers have only seen a glimpse of the game, Microsoft has provided some additional info on what to expect. Some key details include that AMD has been selected as the exclusive partner, meaning that AMD Ryzen and Radeon RX6000 GPUs will be optimised for the game, and that AMD FreeSync Premium Pro will be supported. Additionally, a post-launch update will bring raytracing support. There are a wide range of other PC-specific announcements, even non-AMD related, that Microsoft discussed. You can read the full details here.
Mozilla’s Firefox internet browser to come to the Windows Microsoft Store app store
Microsoft shares more details about how Android apps will work on Windows 11
Ahead of Microsoft having launched Android apps on Windows 11 to some Insiders, the company shared some more details on how Android apps will work on Windows 11. When an Android app is installed, the Subsystem for Android will be automatically installed in the background. In addition, the Windows Subsystem for Android will come with its own Settings app. To see everything Microsoft announced, take a read here.
That’s it for this week. We’ll be back next week with more Windows news.
Microsoft news recap is a weekly feature highlighting the top Microsoft news stories of the past week. Sit back, grab some coffee, and enjoy the read!
Xbox Series X|S owners can pre-order new 2TB and 512GB Seagate Storage Expansion Cards
If storage space is becoming an issue on your Xbox Series X or S, not to worry, as two new Seagate Storage Expansion Cards are on the way, offering either 512GB or 2TB of additional space, allowing you to store more next-gen games.
Microsoft Teams app to end support for some Android devices soon
Some Android devices will lose support for the Microsoft Teams app shortly. Android 5, 6, and 7 devices will begin to lose support in a phased manner. Android 5 devices will begin in March 2022, Android 6 in July 2022, and Android 7 in September 2022.
Apparently somebody didn't proof read the #MSTeams announcement #MC292735. "We will be retiring Teams mobile support on iOS version 5,6, and 7… upgrade to newer Android". Or maybe they didn't make a mistake? pic.twitter.com/Q4ZGKhB1Pp
Microsoft Edge 95 reaches Stable channel new Efficiency mode and PDF improvements
Whilst a relatively small update overall, Microsoft Edge 95 has reached the Stable channel, and it brings with it a new Efficiency mode which aims to reduce battery usage of the browser. By default, the new mode is active when in battery saver mode, or can be manually set to be always on or when unplugged. There are also several PDF improvements.
That’s it for this week. We will be back next week with more Microsoft news.
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